Total breakdown as SPL bosses repeatedly criticise referees

Billy Reid has become the latest manager to openly criticise refereeing decisions in games against Rangers.

Craig Brown, Gus MacPherson and Peter Houston have all been outspoken about decisions in recent months as has the Celtic website.

Not much more than a year ago the SPL were delighted to announce that they had come to an agreement with club managers to prevent public criticism of referees.

The announcement came six months after Craig Levein had been hit with a massive fine for his comments about Mike McCurry's performance during a 3-1 defeat from Rangers at Ibrox.

A new maturity seemed to be breaking out within the game suggesting that general grievances would be looked at professionally provided that managers held back from public criticism.

The cynics wondered how long the love-in would last.

This season's events have consigned the 'peace-process' into the dustbin of history with managers despairing at decisions going against their teams.

Despite the regular criticism of decisions the SFA seem very reluctant to discipline managers with the charge of 'bringing the game into disrepute' virtually forgotten.

Hamilton boss Reid didn't even bother to look at a slow-motion replay of James McArthur's disallowed goal such was his conviction that his 'goalscorer' was onside.

Accies are currently clear of the relegation dogfight but if Falkirk and Kilmarnock continue to pick up wins they  could find themselves scrapping to beat the drop after the split.

Reid said: "I haven't seen McArthur's goal on the monitor but I don't need to.

"I knew Joel was offside when the cross came in but James wasn't. He came from deep, timed his run well and I'm told he was three yards onside.

"I was celebrating the goal so I'm disappointed it wasn't given. I had a word with the ref but he had a hard decision.

"Some they get right, some they get wrong. He called this one wrong."

Despite the popular opinion that it is Celtic that are most upset about refereeing decisions very little has been said by the club.

The first time that any official criticism was made was on February 28 when Dougie McDonald's decision to send-off Scott Brown at Ibrox was appealed- and dismissed by McDonald.

Even in a match where the referee admitted to a mistake in not awarding Celtic a penalty, against Rangers in October, Tony Mowbray's criticisms were all aimed at his central defenders rather than referee Craig Thomson.

Elsewhere managers have been highly critical of officials ranging from elder statesman Craig Brown to caretaker Peter Houston at Dundee United.

After having a 'goal' disallowed for offside against Rangers to put his side two up in a game that was eventually drawn 1-1 Motherwell boss Craig Brown almost got angry.

He said: "I feel very aggrieved. All he has to do is look along the line.

"I've had this feeling before at international level when the other team gets decisions like these and now I know what it feels like at club level. I call them big team decisions.

"There's a sense of injustice in the dressing room. I really feel that at 2-0 the game would have been over."

After losing 3-1 to Rangers at Ibrox last month St Mirren manager MacPherson was more outspoken about refereeing inconsistencies.

The St Mirren boss said: "David Weir impeded Michael Higdon in the process of shooting, he affected how he was shooting. There's a decision to get made there. No decision was made.

"We watch games, we go to games and we see clips on the BBC and we see a different set of rules getting applied. None more so than when we're coming here (to Ibrox)."

During his side's Scottish Cup tie with Rangers Dundee United caretaker boss Peter Houston watched his side's 1-0 lead become a 3-1 deficit courtesy of two penalties that certainly fell into the 'soft' category.

Despite fighting back to earn a replay which they eventually won Houston wasn't afraid to come out and criticise referee Dougie McDonald despite knowing that the same official would be in charge of the replay.

Houston said: "I am disappointed and I just wonder if the penalties would have been given at the other end. I hope they would have been.

"Dougie is an honest referee in normal circumstances, I think he is one of the best in Scotland but I was disappointed that he got there early to give the penalty kicks."

What is going on in the background between the clubs and the SFA is anyone's guess but it shouldn't be forgotten that the clubs are the SFA with an Annual General Meeting coming up next month.

The standard of refereeing is clearly a major concern as is the appeals process with Celtic chairman John Reid and SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith issuing statements clearly aimed at one another.

When a third of the managers in a division are complaining about an issue it is clearly worthy of investigation.

Turning the other cheek or hiding behind the 'it even's itself out over the season' cop out surely can't be an option for managers or their clubs.

Scott Brown in no mood to forgive referee McDonald

Straight talking Scott Brown is in no mood to forgive and forget referee Dougie McDonald.

Brown was red carded by McDonald at Ibrox last month and will come face to face with the whistler when he returns to captain Celtic against Kilmarnock today.

Unlike the Wayne Bridge/John Terry incident there will be no avoiding the handshake before the kick-off but Brown won't be letting the events at Ibrox slip into the past.

Asked about McDonald's performance at Ibrox ahead of today's 'reunion' Brown said: "Hopefully he'll do his job better this time than he did the last time. Is this a test of my patience? I think so."

Most people who viewed the incident between Brown and Kyle Lafferty felt that both players were equally guilty and that the incident was worth a yellow card each.

Dougie McDonald isn't most people.

The man who allowed Madjid Bougherra license to kick Robbie Keane throughtout the match despite issuing an early yellow card had tunnel vision in the Brown incident as he raced to flash a red card at the Celtic midfielder.

Within three hours of the game ending Celtic had put in an appeal against the red card with McDonald predicatably rejecting the appeal.

The referee's attitude to the incident and appeal clearly bothers Brown who added: "If the referee had seen it properly, hadn't made his mind up early doors, actually spoken to his linesman, he could have got the decision right.

"But as it happens, he didn't even want to review it, he didn't even want to look at the evidence.

"I'm just a little bit disappointed he can't look at video evidence and actually know I haven't full-out grabbed Lafferty and head-butted him as he says I have.

"I think it's embarrassing that the referee is left to review his own decision.

"It doesn't matter what happens - it's coming back to him anyway. He's not going to change his mind and show he's wrong."

Despite the leaks flowing out of the SFA they have yet to charge Celtic for the website statement that openly criticised McDonald's performance at Ibrox.

Similarly Aiden McGeady hasn't been asked to explain why he said that he felt McDonald's performance at Ibrox wasn't impartial.

The silence of the SFA suggests that they are on unsteady ground and are scared to take Celtic up on their criticisms of McDonald that day.

As he prepares for today's match McDonald will no doubt be enjoying the focus and attention that he will come under at Celtic Park.

Refereeing in the same dramatic manner as his mentor Hugh Dallas anything is possible in this afternoon's match from the man that has refereed three Rangers games in the last five weeks and been criticised by Dundee United's Peter Houston over honest mistakes that presented Rangers with two penalties after going a goal behind to Dundee United.

Should McDonald continue his recent poor performances he can expect further criticism from Celtic.

Whether the SFA have the courage to challenge the club's comments and back their official remains to be seen.

Scott Brown plays for an hour as Celtic beat Drogheda 3-1

Scott Brown played for an hour as a Celtic XI managed by Neil Lennon overcame Drogheda United 3-1.

The Scotland midfielder is likely to go straight back into the first team for Sunday's Scottish Cup tie at Dunfermline.

Brown has missed the last three months of the season but did come on as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock where he played at left-back and replaced Glenn Loovens as captain.

Norwegian defender Thomas Rogne also featured in the side but it was James Forrest that made the biggest impact on the match.

Forrest has been an unused substitute on numerous occasions this season and is clearly earmarked as 'one for the future'.

Drogheda took the lead in the 38th minute but Forrest equalised before half-time with Brown putting Celtic in front four minutes into the second half.

Three minutes later Paul McGowan showed his class with a fine turn and finish to find the net following a break down the right from Forrest.

CELTIC -- Cervi; Towell, Lafferty, Vallers, Rogne (D Gallagher 82); Tolmie, Keatings, Brown (G Gallagher 62); Spence, McGowan, Forrest.

Some pictures from the match

Scott Brown in the crossfire as the Daily Record stand by their story.

The Daily Record have challenged Celtic by standing by their story that the Scott Brown has been told he could be sold this month.

Celtic took the unusual step yesterday of officially denying the story on the club website with quotes from the player and Tony Mowbray.

The club statement also hinted at possible legal action over the story.

Despite that threat the Record are standing by their story and refusing to back down.

They claim today: "SCOTT Brown continued to insist yesterday that he was told he can leave Celtic.

"The SPL club went public to deny Record Sport's story that revealed Tony Mowbray informed the midfield player he could be sold during the January transfer window.

"But information given to us made it clear Brown believes his days at Celtic Park are numbered.

"We stand by that information and our source, who is well known to Celtic.

"Yet, on the Parkhead club's official website yesterday they branded our story as "erroneous and without foundation."

"The truth is that before printing the story it was read out to Brown. And there is no question, no doubt at all, Record Sport's piece was endorsed by him and his reaction included.

"He knows we reported accurately a story which has been the talk of his Celtic team-mates at their Lennoxtown base.

"In fact, even yesterday afternoon Brown was still adamant he'd been told he could leave.

"Someone has been economical with the truth, but Record Sport's conscience is clear. It's now a matter for Brown and Celtic."

The Record's position is quite clear, they haven't backed down in any way and have added further details to the originial story although there are no direct quotes from Brown today.

I wouldn't expect any further comment from Celtic on the matter but the club statement has clearly been ridiculed by the Record.

Both side's will be able to justify their position regardless of whether Brown stays or goes. A transfer this month seems highly unlikely but a future transfer could be traced back to this incident.

Meantime the Record's rivals at The Sun report that Kris Boyd has held signing talks with Aston Villa and was a guest at the club for last night's Carling Cup semi-final win over Blackburn Rovers.

Former Rangers boss Alex McLeish is also said to be keen to take Boyd to Birmingham City.

Celtic v Daily Record: Thugs and Thieves II?

Celtic weren't slow to put their retaliation in on the Daily Record story claiming that Scott Brown had been told that he was no longer required by Tony Mowbray.

The story contained quotes from the player which gave the story extra strength but Brown has been quick to 'put the record' straight as is often said with these type of stories.

Speaking to the Celtic website the midfielder said: "Obviously I am very disappointed with this article as there is no foundation to it. I have worked with the manager for some time and have a very good relationship with him.

"It’s disappointing to have been out for so long with an injury but I’m looking forward to getting back to full fitness as soon as possible and getting back in to the team for the second half of the season."

There's not much room for misinterpretation with those quotes or any possibility that the original words have been 'lost in translation'.

The Record claimed: 'Tony Mowbray has stunned star man Scott Brown by telling him he has no future at Celtic.'

Celtic famously fell out with the Daily Record in December 2002 following a front page story that is almost as famous as 'Freddy Starr ate my hamster' when the newspaper ran with the 'Thugs and Thieves' headline relating to the behaviour of players on a Christmas night out in Newcastle.

A cold war followed between the two parties but the Record and Celtic need each other with the relations eventually being patched up although the Record's double decker bus in Seville six months later wasn't the most popular.

Football clubs and personalities regularly threaten to take legal action against newspapers, and other than the prolific Martin O'Neill these issues get forgotten over the course of time.

Whether Celtic take legal action remains to be seen.

The Celtic statement added: "The story, which appeared on Wednesday morning, has been dismissed by both Tony Mowbray and Scott Brown as being totally without foundation.

"The club is currently taking legal advice over the issue."

Tensions have clearly been raised with the story going a step further than the usual transfer speculation that football clubs expect at this time of the year.

The final ten days of the transfer window will make interesting reading for everyone. If relations have broken down the Record won't hold back, if a compromise has been reached between the club and newspaper then a series of positive stories are likely to appear over the coming days.

Celtic website denial

Scott Brown faces second ankle operation

Scott Brown is facing a second ankle operation and could be out of action for the remainder of the month.

The midfielder is due to return to see a London specialist this week about the injury that has dogged his season.

Despite a summer ankle operation Brown returned to the specialist last month with Tony Mowbray admitting that another visit, and possible operation, is scheduled.

The Celtic boss said: "I am now resigned to not having Scott available for the next few weeks. His problem has not gone away, and every time he gets a heavy challenge on his ankle, we are back to square one.

“As I have always said, the bottom line has to be the player’s welfare, and we will leave it in the hands of the experts.

“Whether Scott needs a small operation, further injections or simply time away from matches, they will decide.

“The important thing is having him fit for the long term. We don’t want to be in a situation where we play him for a few games and then have to rest him for a few.

“That has been the case this time. But to be fair to ourselves, he said he felt absolutely fine after his last trip to the specialist.It is very frustrating for us all."

Brown has played 13 times for Celtic this season plus three games for Scotland but has failed to recapture the form of last season.