The SFA have today announced that Kevin Clancy will be thrown back into high-profile Premiership action, just three weeks after his big Celtic blunders.
Clancy has this weekend been given Sunday’s clash between Hearts and Rangers at Tynecastle. A victory for the Jambos could keep Celtic at the top of the table if we beat Ross County.
However, this comes just three weeks after a host of blunders in the Hibs vs Celtic game. Firstly, Clancy should’ve sent off our own Olivier Ntcham for throwing an arm out at Hibs’ Josh Vela.
He then managed to miss two stonewall penalties that Celtic should’ve had in the second half. Ryan Christie and Moritz Bauer were both bundled over in the box respectively. Clancy, unsurprisingly it must be said, didn’t want to know.
He was taken out of the firing line for the last round of Premiership games. However, he’s been given his chance to turn around his own personal form this weekend.
Should referees be punished for longer after bad games?
This doesn’t just apply to Celtic, of course, but should there be stricter punishments for referees?
It always seems to be that they either get pulled from matches for a week, or go down the divisions to manage lower-league games. Of course this hits referees in the pocket, but it’s never too long before they’re back in high-profile games again.
Clancy had an absolutely disgraceful performance at Easter Road a few weeks ago. Only the international break has made it feel as though it’s been longer than normal. The truth is, there doesn’t seem to be a system in place where poor performances are punished more severely the more they occur.
The fact Clancy is waltzing right back into a game such as Hearts vs Rangers is criminal. It will certainly be interesting to see if he manages to hold back on giving Rangers a penalty or two should they need them.
Meanwhile, Celtic vs Ross County will be refereed by Don Robertson. Robertson’s last Celtic game was away to Hamilton back in September – a game we won 1-0.
Both Bobby Madden and Willie Collum are without Premiership games this weekend. Instead, Collum will take part in the Championship this weekend whilst Madden isn’t scheduled for anything. You can view the referee schedule by clicking here.
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