Ryan Jack calls for referee Willie Collum to be demoted

Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has called for referee Willie Collum to be demoted after his alleged blunder in Sunday's Old Firm match.

Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard accused Collum of missing a blatant foul by Tom Rogic on Jack in the build-up to Olivier Ntcham's winner for Celtic, despite fourth official John Beaton screaming at his colleague to award a free-kick.

The same referee was fiercely criticised the previous weekend for what was widely perceived as a harsh red card for Kilmarnock's Gary Dicker, with Rugby Park boss Steve Clarke claiming his club's appeal stood no chance because the SFA had already appointed Collum to take charge of the Celtic-Rangers game and did not want to admit he had made a mistake.

Now Scotland international Jack says he believes that referees who get decisions constantly wrong must face stern consquences.

'Should referees be put down the divisions after they make a mistake? I think that's what should happen,' he said.

'I don't know what's in place if referees make mistakes. But if you're making mistakes time and time again, why should you be refereeing top games?

'I said: 'Willie, I thought that was a foul'. But you get nothing back. It's just: 'Go away, get out my face' or whatever.

'There's nothing you can say. If you do try to approach to ask why, then you get a booking.

'It's frustrating for players that you can't actually approach a referee and ask for an explanation.

'Is Willie Collum the type of referee you can approach? No! But that goes for most referees nowadays. You can't speak to them or they will book you.'

Jack also questioned Beaton's role in the controversial incident at Celtic Park.

'It makes you ask why the fourth official is there,' he added. 'He's obviously watching from the side to give his input and advice to the referee.

'Obviously, the referee didn't want to listen and he wanted to go with his own decision and go with what he thought - but it's us that suffers.

'Did 60,000 Celtic supporters (influence Collum's decision)? I don't know but it comes back to the point that we don't get answers. No one gets answers. It's brushed under the carpet.'

Jack also took issue with former English top-flight referee Dermot Gallagher who yesterday claimed the Rangers star had actually fouled Rogic first and Collum had merely been playing advantage.

'From what I recall, that definitely wasn't the case,' insisted Jack, a late call-up to the Scotland squad for the double header with Belgium and Albania.

'When I was in the air, Rogic took my leg away and swiped me.

'When I came down, I went over on my ankle. It was costly and tough to take because that was the goal that won the game.

'But it's the same as it always is. You just have to deal with it. We're the ones that lose the points and we have to live with that.'