Referee ´threatened´ after stormy Old Firm clash

The referee in last weekend’s stormy Old Firm clash has received a number of threatening phone calls after awarding a controversial penalty to Rangers, it was reported Tuesday.

The Scottish Football Association confirmed that Willie Collum — who was refereeing his first Rangers-Celtic derby — had been targeted with menacing calls following the match.

Collum angered Celtic boss Neil Lennon after awarding Rangers a spot-kick in the second half of the game at Parkhead, which ended in 3-1 victory for the visitors.

Collum received several calls at his home with the caller threatening to “go after him and his wife and children,” an SFA spokesman told The Daily Record. Collum turned down an offer of police protection, the report said.

“Willie received a number of threatening calls at his home on Sunday night, one of which was taken by his wife,” SFA spokesman Darryl Broadfoot said.

“This kind of behaviour is abhorrent and has no place in football.”

The incident is the latest in a series of flashpoints involving Scottish officials who are believed to be considering their futures.

Assistant referee Steven Craven quit on Monday after being criticised for denying Celtic a penalty at Dundee United in a game earlier this month.

Lennon confirmed that Celtic had written to the SFA seeking clarification on referee Collum’s penalty decision.

The former Parkhead skipper, speaking ahead of Wednesday night’s Scotiish League Cup quarter-final tie with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, said: “There has been correspondence.

“We are asking for clarification on the (penalty) decision.

“We want to see the referee’s report and we want clarification on last week’s decision as well.

“It’s not sour grapes, we just want an explanation for what we feel are strange decisions going against us.”