The discourse surrounding referees in Scottish football has long been a contentious issue, particularly within the Celtic fanbase.

There has always been a lingering sense of distrust towards match officials, with questions arising about potential biases based on their allegiances to specific teams, especially when controversial decisions surface in Celtic or Rangers matches.

Today, this debate took an intriguing turn following comments made by Ally McCoist on talkSPORT regarding referee integrity.

During a conversation with Jeff Stelling about refereeing standards and VAR performance in the English FA Cup matches over the weekend, McCoist, a former Rangers player, brought up an interesting point about Scottish referees.

McCoist expressed, “It’s a fact. It’s real. If we believe that some match officials overseeing Celtic and Rangers games may have personal connections or loyalties to one of the clubs, we’re simply fooling ourselves.

“However, caution is necessary when questioning their impartiality.”

While the majority of fans may not directly impugn the integrity of referees, it’s undeniable that subconscious biases can influence decisions on the field.

For instance, if put in charge of a Celtic match, can any referee claim absolute certainty that their emotions towards the club wouldn’t impact a critical judgment call? The reality is that such personal ties can inadvertently sway decisions.

In an effort to address these concerns, the Scottish Football Association could consider adopting a system similar to the English FA, where match officials disclose their footballing affiliations at the start of each season, thereby enhancing transparency and potentially safeguarding officials from allegations of partiality.

While implementing such a measure may present challenges, fostering a culture of openness within the national body could be a positive step towards mitigating controversies surrounding refereeing in Scottish football.