Does it have to be a conspiracy for certain refs to favour one team and not another?
Is it a conspiracy for instance when a particular ref in his last three matches where he has reffed The Rangers FC has sent off opposition players in each match? 3 in 3 and I think it may now be as many as 5 in his last 7? Two of the three reds were harsh to say the very least. This is a guy who coincidentally teaches in the school where the TRFC academy students attend. Or that certain refs don't seem to award stonewall penalties to Celtic at crucial times in games? And yet when Celtic recently benefited from one tight offside call the head of referees came out and gave interviews in the press about it. Complete radio silence about many incidents, including Goldson's clear handball not being given against Hearts, since.
Certainly there are incompetent refs out there but when you see the trends like how many times red cards are given to opponents of one team, given to members of another team, how many penalties are/are not awarded at crucial times, even the number of times players of a particular team don't get sent off but are found guilty subsequently and suspended, all combined do give one reason for pause I think.
And of course the bias in the reportage bubbled to the surface for all to seen when the Mail ran the story about Celtic dropping points when they actually hadn't.
Could you imagine it happening in England? I certainly couldn't and if it did I think there'd be multiple references to it and the journo/paper in question issue all kinds of apologies.
And then particular commentators saying Celtic should be censured for those idiots who invaded the pitch for the late late celebration of Ralston's goal being the same ones explaining that when The Rangers fans do it it's just an understandable expression of relief.
Not saying it's a deliberate conspiracy, but I do think there's a certain frame of mind prevalent in Scotland that you don't see south of the border, in soccer or in general society. Say what you will about the English but I think in general they have an inherent sense of "fair play" by comparison.
