There was a time most of us would happily mutter "swings and roundabouts" and move on. Lately, though, that easy shrug doesn't sit right. Behaviour from one side of the Old Firm aimed at officials — and the way some decisions land — has put doubt in the minds of ordinary supporters. It's not paranoia. It's frustration. And it's real.

Why the doubt feels legitimate

To be fair, referees are human and mistakes happen. Nobody seriously believes every call always goes one way on purpose. The point is that repeated episodes, and what people describe as imbalanced refereeing statistics, add up. When you see decisions that we'd rarely get ourselves and then hear the noise — the constant pressure and narrative — it's natural to wonder whether outside factors are creeping in.

I'm not accusing anyone of specific acts. What I'm saying is this: perception matters. If a sizeable chunk of the support thinks the game isn't being treated fairly, the credibility of the competition takes a hit. That damages everyone, not just Rangers fans.

The problem with moral posturing

So when a supporter of the other side turns up and talks about moral high ground while doing little to acknowledge their club's role in creating the problem, it winds people up. You can see why. Saying "I'm honest, I'm balanced" feels hollow when the wider behaviour hasn't been owned up to. Honest voices don't need to shout about honesty — their actions do the talking.

Where we go from here

What should happen next? Cooler heads, clearer rules, and consistent enforcement would go a long way. Better transparency around refereeing and less grandstanding from clubs and their followers would help restore trust. As a Rangers fan, I still want to believe in the integrity of the game. I'm simply saying the question is now out there because of what we've all seen and heard. If anyone wants to calm things down, owning up and being straightforward would be a start.

Written by TommyGunxxx: 26 March 2026

Tags: spfl injury