Browsing through social media, or to be specific, football social media, it is clear that there is no rivalry even close to the one between Rangers and Celtic in the Old Firm.
Man Utd and Liverpool hate each other, as do Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, but you never see them creating elaborate spreadsheets that prove there is a conspiracy or taking full page adverts out in foreign newspapers.
The latest by a prominent blogger and podcaster, involves a “neutral” referee that finally, beyond all doubt, proves that the SFA are in cahoots with Rangers and are out to get Celtic – no, really – with the appointment of John Beaton not helping either.
Rangers in Old Firm SFA conspiracy theory claim, does it add up?
Why can’t our rivals just be “normal” and hate us because we are competing for trophies and for titles.
Or because Ibrox is a better stadium and that we are getting more out of a squad that didn’t cost as much.
Also, why do these conspiracies only seem to happen when Celtic aren’t winning the league by nine points and picking up consecutive trebles.
Some people really do have too much time on their hands.
The basis of the most recent one is built on a Celtic fan sending incidents from games featuring his club and Rangers to his “neutral” and unnamed referee.
The mysterious official reviews the incidents and the Celtic fan then – using various models from other leagues – equates these to points above or below what the teams should get, based on game-changing decisions.
For a start, we all know how inconsistent referees are from one week to the next, just because his – who remains nameless – says a red card is a red card, doesn’t make it so.
Then, and this is the killer which basically ruins all his good work and all the effort.
The author has openly admitted on social media that he doesn’t watch all of Rangers games and uses only the highlights to pick out controversial moments.
For example, Lewis Mayo’s handball against Kilmarnock or Dan Casey’s potential red card at Ibrox for Motherwell – neither of these were sent for review by his expert official.
And with that, the whole debate is knackered and he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
There is only one team that has benefitted from SFA decisions
For any data analysis or research to be accurate, you can’t pick and choose what data is used.
All this, from a supporter of a club who were awarded the league title with nine games still to be played by Rangers and given the opportunity to play a cup final seven months later in the following season against a team that had been relegated.
They also had an Old Firm derby moved when they had an injury crisis with it being played after they had signed new players.
Don’t forget the two Old Firm derbies from this season where officials have had an influence in the result, both games won by a goal and in both games Rangers had decisions go against them.
You couldn’t make it up.
