Rangers' fury over Old Firm linesman

[Norris Cole 0]

May 6 2009 By Keith Jackson

 

RANGERS are set to go to war with SPL bosses over a fixture row for the second season on the trot as the race for the title goes down to the wire.

 

Record Sport understands the Ibrox club's hierarchy are seething over what they regard as the "grossly unfair" rescheduling of the third and fourth rounds of post-split matches - switches which will give Celtic's players an extra TWO DAYS resting time between games.

 

And their anger was intensified yesterday when it was announced that manager Walter Smith's 'favourite' linesman Tom Murphy will be running the line for referee Craig Thomson at this Saturday's Judgment Day Old Firm derby.

 

Smith launched an astonishing attack on Murphy in November after the official's offside decision denied Kris Boyd a late winner in a 0-0 draw at Fir Park.

 

The Rangers boss was asked to explain his comments to the SFA after saying on the night: "It was a poor decision by the linesman. I think the TV replays show quite clearly that Kris was onside.

 

"Mr Murphy was quick to allow a Scott McDonald goal at Celtic Park last season. And he was quick to disallow that one tonight.

 

"And people always say we are the club who never get any decisions against us!

 

"But that's two goals we have scored this season at Aberdeen and Motherwell that the linesmen have got wrong."

 

Now Murphy will be under the spotlight again for the match which might decide the destiny of this year's title fight.

 

But while Rangers are in no position to complain about Murphy's appointment, they HAVE contacted the league's top brass to demand an explanation as to why they have been forced into playing two crucial matches in the space of two and a half days next week.

 

The simmering resentment comes 12 months after Smith blamed the SPL for wrecking his chances of a historic UEFA Cup triumph AND domestic title glory by forcing his men to play four games in eight days in an exhausting season finale.

 

Now Rangers are furious again as they slug it out with Celtic once more.

 

An SPL source confirmed to Record Sport last night that the Ibrox club's chief executive Martin Bain has expressed his outrage over the decision to make Rangers travel to face Hibs next Wednesday night - then have them back in action against Aberdeen little more than 60 hours later on Saturday lunchtime.

 

Celtic, meanwhile, take on Dundee United at Parkhead on Tuesday night - but the champions will then have over 100 hours rest before they are next in action at Easter Road.

 

Our source said: "Rangers are clearly unhappy about the way the games have been rescheduled for TV.

 

"They feel aggrieved because Celtic have an extra couple of days off between these matches but it's been explained that this is simply down to an oversight."

[Gazza_8 233]

We can't really comment as we've been telling Celtic to get on with it rather than moaning over the post-split fixtures. If the shoe was on the other foot we'd be telling Celtic to get on with it.

 

Just do it Rangers!

[Guest adamski]

Murphy should be hounded form start to finish on Saturday

 

 

as should his pal "francis andrews"

[calscot 0]

We can't really comment as we've been telling Celtic to get on with it rather than moaning over the post-split fixtures. If the shoe was on the other foot we'd be telling Celtic to get on with it.

 

Just do it Rangers!

 

However, it is different scenarios. Celtic's beef is only a perception by them and is just a result of trying to make the "fairest" for all teams patch up of fixtures due to the split. The rest is a coincidence.

 

Rangers however have a fact based complaint (as playing two games so close is generally considered a disadvantage) which was caused by stupid scheduling. They've switched Rangers first game to a Sunday and then switched the second from the Wednesday to the Tuesday. It would have been simple and far more logical to Switch the Celtic game to the Tuesday seeing as they play on the Saturday.

 

Celtic are complaining about the SPL making the fairest decision in a difficult conundrum while Rangers are complaining about the least fairest decision in what is obviously a no-brainer..

 

Chalk and cheese in my opinion.

[Bluedell 5,346]

We didn't make an issue with Murphy last season when he arguably cost us the title. The club have obviously said "enough is enough" and about time.

 

Kudos to them for raising this point. It's about time that we highlighted this issue.

[Super_Ally 0]

Reading that I really hope we don't rue the 4 points from Aberdeen/Motherwell.

 

Plus the 10 points or whatever it is that Celtic have "gained" throughout the season, particularly early on.