Rangers’ fortune with referees is well known in Scotland. Goodness knows I have spoken enough about the number of favourable decisions they get compared to Celtic.
A pattern of assistance. The phrase coined to ensure Celtic fans can highlight the inconsistencies of Scottish referees without being called paranoid or delusional.
But strangely the favourable decisions that somehow the Ibrox club always get in the domestic game never seem to follow them when they venture into Europe.
Referees on the continent have no issue applying the laws of the game fairly no matter what colour the strip is.
So when I say karma could be about to hit Rangers this Thursday, I really mean it.
UEFA have appointed a referee for the crunch last 16 tie against Benfica who is well known to the Celtic fans.
This referee is so bad that the decisions he makes do not favour any club. All teams are fair game.
Virgil van Dijk and John Hartson slam Celtic referee
Slovakian official, Ivan Kruzliak, has been given the honours to referee Rangers’ crunch Europa League 2nd leg fixture with Benfica.
So who is Kruzliak? Celtic fans will remember recently for him sending off Daizen Maeda in the 6-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League this season.
It was an ordering off that infuriated John Hartson as he said at the time, “That’s nowhere near a red.” Other Celtic fans of my age will also remember the UEFA official from 2015 when Celtic lodged a complaint with the European governing body for his shambolic decisions in the Europa League last 32 clash with Inter Milan.
Celtic went out of the competition 4-3 to the Italian after losing the second leg 1-0. Kruzliak booked eight players and dismissed Virgil van Dijk for a second yellow that night.
That prompted van Dijk to rage, “It was a terrible decision. That is the worst ref I have ever experienced in my career.
“I don’t understand all of the decisions he made.” (Daily Record via PressReader)
Fingers crossed the Slovakian is on form against the Ibrox club on Thursday, eh?
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