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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ronnie Esplin, PA

Ibrox CEO claims Rangers are leading the way in improving officiating standards

(Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)

Chief executive Jim Gillespie claims Rangers are leading the quest for improved officiating standards in Scottish football.

Controversy around decisions has dogged the season and recently there was furore around a possible Hearts penalty at Motherwell which was denied despite VAR intervention.

A much-debated spot-kick awarded to Celtic, also at Fir Park, led to the Hoops winning 3-2 before they clinched the title against the Jambos at Parkhead on Saturday.

Gillespie believes it is right that the Ibrox club lead by example in driving up the levels in Scotland. He said: “We were in a meeting with the SFA on Friday about how we can improve Scottish football.

“We have a great belief at Rangers that we are the leading club and we want to be the leading club. We want Scottish football to be the best it can be. Our request is that at the moment regulators and governing bodies start leading alongside us. That will improve all standards and particularly refereeing, the hot topic at the moment.

“Our view is that there are lots of concerns and how do we get involved to improve it and make it stronger and increase resources? That includes leadership from the governing bodies but also from the other clubs around us. We can either make things better or it can be a race to the bottom. Rangers have got a long history of being the leading club.

"And how we behave at those times is really important to the club’s values and that is what we will be pushing forward.”


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Gillespie also revealed there is a push to improve VAR technology which is also under the spotlight.

Rangers will pay their “fair share” of any increased expenditure according the chief executive, who said: “We arranged a meeting of the SPFL clubs and the SFA attended. “We all agreed that we need to be more aligned on strategy and improving the standards.

“We can all shout about a decision but what changes? Do we just apologise on the Monday? Do we accept that apology? What has to change? Do we need to increase digital performance or have full-time referees?

“Ultimately we are going to the World Cup and the Scottish FA is making some money, how do we get some of that to get things improved? Can we as clubs support improved resources whether that is financial or in other ways like cameras in stadia?

“Do we want you be in the New York Times talking about VAR decisions? Or do we want to say this is a journey and be really open with fans about how we improve it?

“Ultimately it is Scottish football’s reputation, which we are part of. But I don’t think at this stage we should be saying VAR is no good. VAR is there to improve and you do see other leagues where it does make a positive impact or more of a positive impact and I think that is the strategy at the moment.

“At that meeting there was a definite alignment to look at a strategy, talk about it and take it forward.”

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