Rangers and Celtic have both found themselves at the centre of controversial refereeing decisions, ultimately leading to the dismissal of a Scottish match official by the SFA.
Willie Collum made the tough call to axe VAR official Alan Muir after high-profile errors in matches involving both Glasgow giants—first in the Scottish League Cup final in December and later in a Premiership clash between Celtic and Hibernian in February.
**Rangers’ frustration key to official’s dismissal**
In December’s dramatic League Cup final at Hampden, which ended 3-3 before Celtic triumphed on penalties, Rangers were left feeling aggrieved. The controversy surrounded a moment when Celtic’s Alastair Johnson pulled back Vaclav Cerny just outside the box, with the foul continuing into the penalty area. Muir, serving as part of the VAR team, ruled for a free-kick rather than a penalty—a decision that sparked fury among Rangers players and fans.
Willie Collum reviewed Muir’s involvement after that call and later oversaw another incident where Celtic were wronged in a February match against Hibs. Muir was initially sidelined for two weeks, as reported by *The Scottish Sun* (8 April), but has now been permanently removed from VAR duties.
Collum’s decisive action highlights growing concerns over the standard of officiating in Scottish football, particularly after mistakes that impacted both Old Firm clubs in quick succession.
**Clement and Rodgers furious with officiating**
Both Philippe Clement and Brendan Rodgers voiced strong dissatisfaction following Muir’s controversial involvement in their respective matches, echoing the frustration of their supporters. Rangers, in particular, may feel their hopes of retaining the League Cup were dashed due to that crucial decision.
Now, four months on, Rangers risk finishing the season trophyless—unless they can make an unlikely run to the Europa League title. With Barry Ferguson at the helm, their campaign continues this Thursday, 10 April, at Ibrox against La Liga side Athletic Club.
