When it comes to David Dickinson and Danny Rohl it seems like Willie Collum just can’t get enough.
The Renfrew based referee was on duty against Kilmarnock tonight. After four minutes Tavpen and red card was trending. To the surprise of no-one paying any attention.
THEDICKINSON FACTOR
Rohl has been in charge at Ibrox for 16 SPFL Premiership matches.
Dickinson has refereed four of those matches. All have involved contentious penalty decisions. All going in one direction.
Willie Collum has selected 14 referees to take charge of Premiership matches this season.
After 26 rounds of fixtures most referees should have been involved in two matches with each team.
Dickinson has had four matches involving his favourite club. He has refereed 15% of their SPFL games so far. By appointment from honest Willie Collum.
The Head of Refereeing at the SFA knows what Dickinson is. He knows his background, he knows the Dickinson family.
DECEMBER 3, DUNDEE UNITED 2-2
With United leading 2-1 Manny Fernandez raised his right arm to control a long throw-in. Dickinson waved play on.
In the eighth minute of stoppage time he pointed to the penalty spot when Max Aaron’s fell to the ground. Nedim Bajrami scored with a penalty to secure a point.
DECEMBER 27, MOTHERWELL 1-0
Motherwell were trailing 1-0 going into the closing minutes Lukas Fadinger broke into the penalty box. As he darted past Fernandez the defender stuck out his left leg to bring the move to a halt.
Dickinson had a clear view, he allowed play to continue, Greg Aitken on VAR has similar viewpoints and was never going to correct his brother in arms. The Dickinson and Aitken families both enjoyed a merry Christmas
JANUARY 11, ABERDEEN 2-0
Aberdeen were horrendous. They were lucky to be still in the match at half time. Without a manager they went into the game in the bottom half of the SPFL and on the back of three successive defeats.
Halfway through the second half they were forcing a few corners, an equaliser wasn’t unthinkable.
And then Djeidi Gassama decided to jump into the air. At Sheffield Wednesday last year he would have risked a booking. At Pittodrie today he was guaranteed a penalty. Tavpen did what Tavpen does
FEBRUARY 4, KILMARNOCK
Three minutes into the match and a through ball is played into the Kilmarnock penalty box. Dom Thompson is caught out as Gassama runs in behind him. An awkward challenge goes in. Dickinson can’t wait. Not only a penalty but a red card for the defender, a real rarity under the current rules.
Joy worldwide for the Dickinson family, led by uncle David in Australia. He doesn’t care who knows how staunch he is, or how proud he is of his favourite nephew.
Shocking refereeing there
— Logan (@Logan1869) February 4, 2026
There is absolutely no need for one referee to be in charge of the same team four times inside two months. Especially not one as conflicted as Dickinson.
Collum knows exactly why Dickinson is so regularly put in charge of Rohl’s side.
After their squeals and campaigning following the League Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic the dividend has been obvious.
Dickinson, John Beaton and Steven McLean have never been busier.
THE MESSAGE FROM HAMPDEN
The post Hampden narrative was entirely one way.
The Auston Trusty booking was on a loop in Scottish media circles. Unlike the assault on Johnny Kenny by Derek Cornielus, or the after attack from Mo Diomande.
Kilmarnock coach Billy Dodds claimed that Trusty raked his studs across Butland’s face. No one on Radio Scotland corrected that claim.
It took until the Thursday after the match before the Reo Hatate penalty incident made the mainstream. Briefly. The handball from a Mikel-Ange Balikwisha has still to surface in legacy media circles.
The outcry from Ibrox after their League Cup semi-final defeat wasn’t about that match at Hampden. It was a message for the remainder of the season.
Collum with his bestie Gordon Duncan have complied exactly as requested.
Having refereed his favourite team against Dundee United, Motherwell, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock there is one big fixture waiting on Dickinson.
After being on Fourth Official duty twice for the Glasgow Derby it seems only a matter of time before he is refereeing that fixture. With the full backing of Michael Nicholson and his boardroom colleagues at Celtic.
