Ryan Jack has suggested Willie Collum would benefit from dropping down a division after the referee’s high-profile error in Sunday’s Old Firm derby.
Collum ruled that Tom Rogic had not fouled Jack in the build-up to Olivier Ntcham’s winner, leaving Jack feeling particularly hard-done by. Rangers manager Steven Gerrard felt Collum had cost them the game by not making the call and his midfielder feels Collum is not approachable on the field.
He said: “I don’t know what’s in place if referees do make mistakes, but if you’re making mistakes time and again, why should you be refereeing top games? I said I thought it was a foul but you get nothing back – it’s ‘go away’ or ‘get out of my face’. If you do try and approach to speak to him, it’s a booking and another rash decision that’s made on the pitch.
“It’s frustrating for the players that you don’t seem to be able to approach referees nowadays. I feel I can’t approach him but that goes for most referees, or they’ll just book you. No one gets answers, it’s brushed under the carpet. You would like to think there could be a relationship where players can give their views. It’s a decision that goes against you but you have to get on with it. We’re the ones who lose the three points and have to live with that.”
Sunday was Jack’s second game back after a concussion sustained in his return to Aberdeen on the opening day of the season. Jack was taken off after a clash with Stevie May at Pittodrie and revealed he took some criticism from supporters as he left the stadium.
He said: “After the game I had a bit of a turn, a bit of concussion and I wasn’t too good. The only way to get me out was on a stretcher as if you stand up after a bad head injury, it can be dangerous. I went out the main door where obviously all the supporters are waiting. You get stick. I don’t think it was too pleasant. You hear things that are being said but I’m big enough to deal with it.”
After being initially left out, Jack has been called into the Scotland squad following Tom Cairney’s withdrawal through injury for the friendly with Belgium on Friday and the Nations League game with Albania on Monday – both at Hampden. He said: “I want to make the most of this week. I missed out originally, but thankfully I was there to be called upon.”