The aftermath of the recent Glasgow Derby lingers on as Bobby Madden sheds light on how referees and VAR officials are evaluated following the controversial Celtic incident.
During the match, Fabio Silva of Rangers won a disputed penalty after what seemed to be a dive in the Celtic penalty area. Referee John Beaton initially issued a yellow card for simulation but later reversed his decision to award Rangers a penalty after consulting VAR.
The controversial decision sparked outrage from Celtic fans, with Chris Sutton and the club sending a letter to the SFA seeking clarification on the matter. The question arises: What consequences do match officials face for such game-changing errors? Does the SFA take action or simply let the controversy fade away?
Madden, a familiar face in handling high-stakes games like the Glasgow Derby, revealed that SFA officials are indeed graded after each match, with major errors impacting their future appointments. While the grading system is not publicly disclosed, it ensures that top-performing officials are assigned to important matches while underperforming referees face consequences.
These revelations by Madden raise more concerns about the SFA and VAR, especially in light of recent questionable officiating in matches involving Celtic. The lack of accountability and transparency in addressing these issues leaves much to be desired, with fans eagerly awaiting updates from the club and the governing body.