Steven Whittaker is confident the referee strike has not been a distraction for Rangers as they prepare to face Dundee United on Sunday. The clash at Tannadice will be officiated by Luxembourg's Alain Hamer, with the Scottish Football Association drafting in match officials from all over Europe after Scottish referees voted to withdraw their labour this weekend.
There was some doubt whether the fixtures would be able to go ahead as planned but Whittaker says the Scottish champions simply stuck to their normal routine.
"Our plan was to prepare for the game at the weekend as we normally would and we are looking forward to it," he said.
"It's not been a distraction at all. We have prepared as normal and we want the game to go ahead so hopefully it will.
"To be honest, I've not really got a view on it. They obviously feel strongly enough to go on strike at the weekend.
"As football players, we will just continue to concentrate on ourselves and play football when the games come along."
Rangers are used to foreign match officials while competing on the European stage.
Whittaker added: "European football is obviously different so it could make for a different kind of game and different decisions might be made.
"But it's the same for everyone so we will get on with whatever decisions are made on the day."
