Willie Collum doubles down with Matthew MacDermid whistle claim

Willie Collum has claimed that Matthew MacDermid didn’t blow his whistle in the build up to Cyriel Dessers putting the ball into the St Johnstone net at Hampden on Saturday.

The new Head of Refereeing has now shown that there has been no change in approach from the SFA who will defend referees and VAR officials regardless of the circumstances and evidence.

MacDermid is from the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association that also fast tracked Collum, Andrew Dallas and John Beaton through the ranks onto the lucrative international circuit. This summer MacDermid joined the FIFA list.

Two St Johnstone players have claimed that they heard a whistle as Dessers sent Jack Sanders to the ground.

MacDermid turned his back to play with his hand to his mouth but it seems that Collum won’t go on record to explain those actions or why Greg Aitken on VAR decided to over-rule the decision to award a free-kick.

The Courier reports:

The SFA have backed Matthew MacDermid’s handling of the controversial opening goal for Rangers in Saturday’s Premier Sports Cup clash with St Johnstone.

Head of refereeing Willie Collum has reviewed the audio recording before and after Cyriel Dessers put the Ibrox side into the lead as Saints players felt MacDermid had stopped the game to award a foul for them.

MacDermid did chalk off the goal, which was later allowed to stand after VAR got involved.

But Courier Sport understands Collum is satisfied the Hampden Park referee whistled AFTER the ball crossed the line and not before.

Kyle Cameron and Matt Smith were among a number of Perth men who thought they heard different.

But Monday’s SFA review is likely to be the end of the issue, despite the fact MacDermid put his whistle to his lips and gestured for a free-kick after Dessers and Jack Sanders came together in the Saints penalty box.

The rules state that a whistle is the only official sign that play has been halted and, as such, the protocols have been adhered to.

Saints were also dismayed that VAR official, Greg Aitken, didn’t send MacDermid to his pitch-side monitor after Adama Sidibeh hit the ground following a Dessers challenge in the Rangers six-yard box in injury-time.

The SFA has found no fault on that front either, it is understood.

It is now upto St Johnstone to decide if they want to take this further, later on Tuesday morning the SFA will publish the weekend officials with MacDermid and Aitken expected to be involved in Premiership fixtures.