Tam McManus has criticized Rangers for their Tuesday morning statement addressing officiating in Scottish football.
On 24 December, Rangers announced they had contacted the SFA to raise concerns about the quick reinstatement of the two VAR officials responsible for a major error during the Scottish League Cup final against Celtic. Adding to the controversy, one of these officials has been assigned to oversee a Celtic match in the SPFL in the coming days.
McManus shared his views on X, stating: “This will rally Rangers fans still looking for accountability, but I find it disappointing. It’s putting immense pressure on officials who, in my opinion, made an honest mistake. Let them do their jobs rather than being exiled or fired. And yes, I’m sure we’ll hear the ‘but Celtic did it too’ argument.”
Rangers Were Right to Take a Stand
Rangers’ decision to publicly address the issue is justified, especially when officiating errors can significantly impact results, jeopardize trophies, and influence managerial careers.
The ongoing inconsistency in refereeing undermines the integrity of the game and the competitive balance. By making their grievances public, Rangers are advocating for accountability and improvements in officiating standards, a stance that serves the interests of the entire league.
This is not about intimidating officials but ensuring fairness and transparency—principles that even critics like McManus would support. Hopefully, Rangers’ move will signal to the SFA that the status quo is unacceptable and urgent action is needed to restore trust in
the system.
