Bobby Madden fires Rangers 'behave' warning over Willie Collum as 'personal attack' comes with abuse side-effect

Bobby Madden has said Willie Collum should be plunged straight back into a match involving Rangers as he hit out at the controversy around the referee.

The Ibrox club made a "request" that the experienced whistler be withdrawn from future matches involving them after being left far from impressed with his role as VAR official against Celtic last month. Alistair Johnston's handball storm after a challenge with Rangers' Abdallah Sima sparked widespread debate. The SFA booted it out immediately and said "we would ask that club representatives show greater responsibility in such matters."

Former referee Madden is on a similar wavelength with the Scottish powerbrokers, and believes Collum should be placed on cup duty between Dumbarton and Philippe Clement's side next week. He told Sportsound: "When you start publicly making these requests publicly, it puts massive pressure on the SFA, on the referees. I don't think it is fair. I think when it becomes public it becomes a personal attack in many ways.

"Given where we are with social media and the focus put on the match official, it is not going to encourage positive behaviour. If any referee makes a high-profile, the SFA will go 'how can we appoint them back to that team', doesn't matter who the team is.

"Naturally they will look for a home match against a team at the other end of the table so there is less pressure on the referees. The SFA will be looking at where to appoint Willie. I would put him into the cup tie next week.

"During Covid, an Instagram was opened up and the communication was great. Two-way, fans of all clubs, no matches on, asking about decisions and how they get involved in refereeing. It was fantastic but as soon as the football returned the tone of