Barry Ferguson Criticizes Refereeing Standards in Scottish Premiership

Former Rangers midfielder and interim manager Barry Ferguson has voiced strong criticism regarding the current standard of refereeing in the Scottish Premiership. His comments come amid recent controversy surrounding several key decisions in matches involving title contenders Celtic and Rangers.

Recent Controversial Decisions

The debate was reignited following recent matches. Celtic were awarded a penalty in their 3-1 victory over Motherwell at Parkhead after a foul on Daizen Maeda, resulting in a red card for Emmanuel Longelo. However, the decision was initially missed by the on-field referee and required VAR intervention. Meanwhile, a handball incident involving Alex Gogic during a match between St Mirren and Rangers sparked debate, as a similar incident involving Dundee’s Simon Murray resulted in a penalty being awarded on the same weekend.

Ferguson’s Critique

Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Ferguson stated, “I think the standard of refereeing is well below the standard that is needed this season.” He expressed his bewilderment at some of the decisions made, stating, “Some of the decisions – you’re talking about the Celtic one that John Beaton doesn’t see when Maeda is pulled down for the penalty. I don’t understand why he doesn’t see it. He’s actually in a good position.”

Ferguson emphasized that his concerns extend beyond a single match, noting, “I’m not just talking about that game. I think we could go on here for hours and hours. There are a number of games I’ve watched and some of the decisions are absolutely baffling.”

Handball Rule Inconsistency

A key point of contention for Ferguson is the inconsistency in applying the handball rule. “The handball rule is all over the place,” he said. He believes the incident involving Gogic should have resulted in a penalty, stating, “I think the arm is away from his body, I’ve seen them given, I’ve seen them not given, I just don’t know what to think anymore.”

Ferguson similarly referenced a previous handball decision involving Dujon Sterling of Celtic, questioning the expectations placed on players. “I go back to the Dujon Sterling handball… Is he meant to jump with his arms by his side? That for me is unnatural.”

Shared Concerns

Former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew echoed Ferguson’s sentiments, expressing confusion over the interpretation of the handball rule. “I’m the same. I don’t know how many times I’ve googled the ‘handball rule’ this year and I still don’t fully get what it is,” Mulgrew stated. He highlighted the difficulty in determining what constitutes a “natural position” for the arms during play.

As reported by Ibrox News, Ferguson expressed feelings of disappointment following recent Old Firm derby events, stating he felt “numb, empty, sad and flat.”