Firm Focus: Weir won't be distracted by Celtic Pic: ©STV
Rangers captain David Weir insists his team will be firmly focussed on the Old Firm match and that Celtic’s tactics to drag the referee controversy into the build-up will not affect them.
News of Celtic’s alleged complaint to the SFA over refereeing standards in the SPL was leaked midweek and caused a media storm, but Weir dismissed the controversy as “background noise”.
The 39-year-old maintained that unless the complaint can be attributed to someone, it’s hearsay and therefore irrelevant to the players and the club.
“It’s not got a name to it, so I don’t think you can take that seriously. If someone puts their name to something, then you can maybe have an argument bout it. But regarding this situation, it’s just hearsay isn’t it?
“I genuinely say it’s not had any effect on us. I realise that it has been big news but, from the players’ point of view, it’s just really background noise.”
Weir, who will be hoping to keep his side’s unbeaten record at Ibrox this season, said referees are on human and can make mistakes just like players.
“At Rangers, we go into every game with the referee as the last thing on our minds. I have no doubt that the referees go out and do the best they can. Sometimes they make mistakes, sometime the players make mistakes.
“Obviously if they perceive a decision to go one way, then one team is going to have one opinion and the other team is going to have a different opinion. That’s the problems they have.
“I’m sure individual players will have better relationships with referees than others but that’s just the way life is.
“To be honest I don’t know who the referee is for our games, I just turn up on the weekend and find out.”
