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“Feel sorry for Philippe Clement, forever marked by those ruthless figures in the SFA’s video room, he needs to understand the power they could have if they chose to fight not out of vengeance, but for the greater good”- Bill Leckie has criticized Rangers manager Philippe Clement for his remarks about the officiating following their defeat in the Celtic final.
Bill Leckie has criticized Rangers manager Philippe Clement for his comments about the officiating following their defeat in the Celtic final. The Scottish Sun reporter believes Clement, along with new chairman Fraser Thornton and CEO Patrick Stewart, should focus on improving the game rather than seeking vengeance.
Despite the criticism, Rangers found some form of redemption when the SFA admitted that VAR made an error during the match at Hampden Park on 15 December.
Leckie wrote on 22 December: “Poor Philippe Clement, forever marked by those ruthless figures in the SFA’s video room. But if Clement, Thornton, and Stewart have any sense, they’ll rise above that. They need to realize the power they could have if they fought not for revenge, but for the betterment of the game.
“The same applies to their rivals across the city. History shows us that if they’d been denied the same penalty, they’d be making it all about themselves.”
Leckie continued: “As for Clement? I’d love to sit down and explain to him just how few decisions we ever get against Celtic or his team. Then he’d understand what real scars feel like.”
Clement Right to Speak Out
Clement’s remarks reflect a response to what many see as ongoing poor refereeing decisions in Scottish football. His comments bring attention to a wider issue in the sport where key matches are influenced by officiating mistakes, especially with VAR in play.
Clement’s stance isn’t about seeking retribution, but about advocating for better refereeing standards, which are vital to the integrity of the game. If managers from all clubs publicly called for better officiating, it could push the SFA to improve referee training, implement clearer guidelines, and enhance technology use.
Such a collective effort could bring about systemic changes that reduce controversial decisions and improve the credibility of matches.
What clubs don’t want is an apology after the fact, as that doesn’t address the issue.
In other Rangers news, the club has initiated talks to finalize the transfer of a striker who is currently leading the Golden Boot race.
