McGrain shocked by refereeing decisions

Even after 40 years at Celtic Danny McGrain could hardly believe the performance of the referee in Wednesday's reserve win over Rangers at Murray Park.

Celtic's 1-0 win can be watched again on channel 67 as Morten Rasmussen scores the only goal of the match.

Without doubt the current term will be remembered as the season of the honest mistake with numerous decisions not going Celtic's way, especially in the games against Rangers.

The mistakes of Craig Thomson, Steve Conroy and Dougie McDonald have all attracted criticism with even Hugh Dallas forced into admitting his disappointment with some of this season's decisions although the only apology that has been issued was on behalf of Thomson after the opening derby of the season.

There are a few compilation videos around on the internet but by any standards the performance of the unknown referee in the reserve match from Wednesday will take some beating.

Speaking after the match reserve coach McGrain said: "I've heard of bad refereeing but we had three certain penalty kicks.

"The guy (Kirk Broadfoot) just took Paddy McCourt's feet away from him, the referee tried to say that he put his foot in.

"Then there was the handball, the ball was going into the back of the net and he said it wasn't intentional but if he stops the ball going into the net it's surely a penalty kick. You've got to get some advantage from it.

"But hey we won 1-0, we played the only football on the park. It was a great game for everybody concerned and especially for Glenn Loovens and Thomas Rogne, they came through without any problems."

Danny forgot to mention the third penalty incident where after some jostling for a bouncing ball Neil Alexander decided to drag Rasmussen onto the deck.

In all three incidents the Rangers players looked surprised to get away without punishment.

It's only fair to add that when Rasmussen did score his goal he could well have been in an offside position but the three penalty incidents were far from marginal.

Chanel 67 certainly goes someway to filling the gap left by the demise of Setanta and Celtic TV, Neil Lennon's interviews are honest and refreshing giving away a few snippets of information.

Dougie McDonald steps back

Consistency is one of the basic demands of frustrated managers when it comes to refereeing decisions.

YouTube incident (watch the ref step back)

Whether it's bookings for after goal celebrations, kicking the ball away or any other hot topic managers look for consistent interpretations of the laws of the game.

Sunday's Rangers-Dundee United match again highlighted the inconsistencies of referees with Dougie McDonald at the centre of attention.

Two weeks earlier he showed an impressive turn of pace to send off Scott Brown. Bobbing and weaving between players as he reached for his red card, ignoring the vantage point of his assistant referee McDonald waved the red card at Brown while overlooking Kyle Lafferty's role in the clash.

To no-one's surprise McDonald refused to consider Celtic's appeal against the decision.

As Dundee United equalised against Rangers on Sunday it was difficult to believe that we were watching the same referee.

This time with a perfect view of the corner coming in from the right McDonald watches Allan McGregor frustratingly swing an arm then a leg out at United goalscorer Mihael Kovacevic after the ball hits the net.

Seeing the incident McDonald steps forward to take action but then quickly retreats for reasons best known to himself.

Maybe he had second thoughts, unlike the Brown/Lafferty incident, maybe he thought a goal was sufficient punishment, maybe he'll contact the SFA Review Panel to look at things again. Maybe he won't.

Why the SFA decided to send McDonald back to Ibrox two weeks after the Rangers-Celtic game requires explanation.

The referee was always gong to be under the spotlight regardless of the outcome of the league clash, putting him in charge of a cup tie and possible replay was madness.

Clearly the pressure has been getting to McDonald whose double penalty award in the first half frustrated Peter Houston.

The Dundee United manager 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."

Those sentiments seemed quite similar to those of Gus MacPherson after losing to Rangers, on that occasion Charlie Richmonds inconsistencies.

The St Mirren boss said: "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."

Despite the criticism from the Celtic website of McDonald's performasnce at Ibrox there has been no request for Celtic to explain themselves, similarly, nine days after questioning whether the referee was impartial Aiden McGeady hasn't been called before the SFA.

If the SFA think that these issues will blow over they could be in for a surprise, giving McDonald three high profile Rangers matches to referee within four weeks doesn't do anyone any favours.

Celtic openly criticise referee McDonald after more honest mistakes

For the third time this season honest mistakes have had a major bearing on the Celtic-Rangers fixture.

Unlike the two previous occasions however Celtic have been quick to voice their concerns about the mistakes of referee Dougie McDonald.

The referee's decision to send-off Scott Brown was rash and unwarranted and appeared like the actions of an inexperienced referee reacting to the roar of the crowd.

Without hesitation McDonald, who sent off Aiden McGeady earlier this season against Hibs, went racing to the scene with his red card primed for the Celtic midfielder.

Celtic kept quiet after the previous controversies against Rangers but have come out with all guns blazing this time with McDonald in the firing line.

The comments from the official club website will surely earn a request from the SFA for an explanation unless the governing body decide to sweep refereeing matters under the carpet, again.

Celtic said: "It was a decision which had a major impact on the game and Celtic will now appeal against the red card, which saw Tony Mowbray’s side down to 10 men for the last half-hour of the game.   

"Certainly, the Celtic support in the Broomloan Road Stand and beyond were left mystified and angry at yet another refereeing decision in a derby game this season which has gone against the club.

"In the first derby match of this season at Ibrox back in October, Celtic were denied a blatant penalty by referee Craig Thomson, who admitted after the game that he had made a mistake.

"And in the game against Rangers at Celtic Park, referee Steve Conroy disallowed a Marc-Antoine Fortune goal, though replays showed that there was nothing wrong with the goal.

"Now, Dougie McDonald’s decision is added to that list and will be the major talking point from the game. "

That statement is going to create as much attention as Chris Sutton's outburst against Dunfermline on the final day of the 2002/03 season.

The SFA will have little option but to challenge the statement from Celtic which will open up a can of worms about other refereeing decisions through the season.

Celtic's statement makes no mention of Madjid Bougherra's performance where an early booking seemed to give the Algerian defender license to do anything that he liked without further punishment.

Bougherra had two further fouls given against him for challenges on Robbie Keane but on neither occasion did McDonald feel the need to even speak to the offender.

A further foul by Bougherra in the 71st minute was ignored by McDonald who seven minutes earlier hadn't been slow to flash the red card at Brown.

McDonald will now have to review the incident again as part of Celtic's appeal which should make for an interesting couple of days.

If McDonald admits to making a mistake he'll be congratulated all round for being honest enough to admit to an honest mistake.

If he stands his ground it'll be interesting to see which avenue Celtic decide to take the matter on.

The focus was always going to be on McDonald after George Peat criticised Celtic for discussing refereeing matters with the SFA, as most clubs do.

A simple no comment from Peat would have killed the 'story' stone dead with Rangers manager Walter Smith adding his comments afterwards.

He said: "If somebody was going to criticise a referee they should come out the closet and do it rather than do it in an anonymous manner.

"There is enough pressure on a referee without anyone else bringing things up."

Having bodyswerved the issues all season long the SFA will be in the spotlight having failed to deal with Celtic's earlier concerns about a number of issues.

Celtic haven't made such an official challenge to Scottish football officials since Fergus McCann went to war over the registration of Jorge Cadete.

On that issue the former Celtic chief was derided for chasing after a lost cause, eventually McCann was vindicated and the then SFA Chief Executive Jim Farry was hurriedly removed from office with a line drawn under the affair.

Today's challenge to the SFA's authority is going to be much more public than who did what with faxes sent between Glasgow and Lisbon over a registration.

A feeding frenzy beckons, there is no conspiracy or paranoid involved, Celtic seem to be questioning the repeated honest mistakes of officials which even Hugh Dallas admitted to earlier this month.

Celtic website statement  
Dallas criticises his own

Mowbray's total disbelief at decisions

Tony Mowbray has admitted to total disbelief over some of the decisions that have gone against Celtic this season.

The build-up to Sunday's third derby match of the season has been dominated by news that Celtic have been in talks with the SFA about a number of decisions that have gone against them this season. 

The timing of the story has piled extra pressure on Sunday's referee Dougie McDonald who sent off Aiden McGeady for simulation earlier this season against Hibs.

Celtic are believed to have raised various issues with the SFA including key decisions that went against them in this season's earlier matches against Rangers.

Last night Mowbray told Celtic's own Channel 67 service: "The last time that we went to Ibrox there were some huge decisions that didn't go our way to the extent that the official apologised the next day for getting some big decisions wrong.

"When I look back in the cold light of day and analyse some of the decisions that have gone against us this season, some of the time it's with total disbelief about how they came to those decisions.

"If the reports are right it will only bring clarification.

"I don't think that anyone would ever question the integrity of the officials anywhere in world football but in my own mind there has been a lot of decisions that I've found very difficult to understand.

"When I've looked back on them I've thought 'that can't be right'. There is a big game to come and this is probably not the time to discuss referees.

"What I do know is that we have a big game on Sunday and hopefully the referee has a good game and gets all the major decisions right."

Tom Boyd backs Celtic's referee questioning

Former Celtic captain Tom Boyd has backed the club's case in demanding questions about refereeing matters this season.

The exact content of discussions between Celtic and the SFA are unclear but after George Pleat confirmed the story to the BBC it's been open season with all sorts of speculation about what Celtic have questioned.

Boyd captained Celtic through many dramas on the park and knows the ways of the refereeing world where his brother reached the heights of refereeing SPL reserve matches.

The whole refereeing debate will dominate the build up to Sunday's Rangers-Celtic match with Boyd providing evidence of what he refers to as mystifying decisions.

"On the evidence of what we have seen this season there has been evidence of a lot of outrageous decisions," Boyd told the BBC.

"That's not just coming from Celtic supporters, you have to look at the comments of managers within the Premier League who have echoed some of the feelings of Celtic supporters.

"Craig Levein, when he was Dundee United managed, said that he was disappointed that Darren Dods didn't hold onto the ball with both hands when giving away what should have been a penalty.

"Eddie May when he was the Falkirk manager also said that Celtic should have had a stonewall penalty.

"Certainly this season Celtic have had been far the victims of lot of honest mistakes."

Discussing the timing of this story Boyd laughed: "I would imagine that Sir Alex Ferguson would have been proud of the timing of this.

"It's came out at this time by George Peat coming out and having a say, reacting to a Celtic source giving it to the BBC.

"For me this is not before time. This is something that should have been looked into. Obviously Celtic and the SFA are having discussions but is there any good time for anything like this to come out?

"It's came out at this stage and for me Celtic are doing the right thing by going to the SFA and just querying about the incompetentsy of referees this season."

Asked about any possibility of bias from the SFA Boyd quickly distanced himself from that suggestion.

He replied: "No, certainly not, I think that there is a helluva lot of incompetency by referees this season.

"There has certainly been irregularities going by the letter of the law in things like goal celebrations. Penalty decisions certainly haven't been equal over the course and that'll have been something that Celtic have highlighted in their approach to the SFA.

"There are other decisions through the course of the season which seem to be mystifying, incidents like Lafferty's challenge on Andreas Hinkel in the last Old Firm game which just earned him a yellow card. Everybody would have seen that that should have been a straight red card.

"There have certainly been a higher proportion of incidents that have gone against Celtic and they have done the right thing by going to the SFA and expressing their concerns that things seem to be against them this season."

Tom Boyd interview (only viewable in the UK)

Celtic voice refereeing concerns?

The phrase 'BBC Scotland understands' needs to be treated very carefully as the state broadcaster doesn't have a particularly special record when it comes to 'understanding' football matters.

With their license fee funded status the BBC can't really be seen to be having a shot in the dark at stories heard on the grapevine which is where they can make use of the 'understands' card.

Tonight BBC Scotland understands that Celtic have contacted the SFA to raise concerns about the standards of refereeing this season- an issue that most Celtic supporters will have commented on to some extent.

Falling for the bait is the illustrious George Peat, the man who saw Airdrieonians into oblivion before finding a liferaft at Stenhousemuir in order to retain his SFA blazer.

Taking the 'story' to Pleat the BBC knew that they were on a winner and off we go with the story that will overshadow everything else in the run up to Sunday's Rangers-Celtic game.

Pleat's diplomatic skills are as refined as the ousted John McBeth whose scatter gun quotes about leading FIFA figures led to him being booted out of the SFA and off some top FIFA committees.

Unable to resist the priceless 'no comment' reply Pleat has waded in feet first and kicked off a classic rammy leading into Sunday's match.

"We find it disappointing and somewhat bizarre that, in the build-up to an Old Firm derby, an unnamed Celtic 'source' would seek to exert additional pressure on match officials by issuing ill-timed and fundamentally inaccurate comments," blabbed the error-prone SFA President.

"The validity of these comments is questionable in any case, since the 'source' is not courageous enough to put his name to them.

"In actual fact, discussions between the Scottish FA and Celtic have taken place, but the contents of these discussions will remain private, as was agreed with the club.

"I am sure the Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, will be concerned by the fact that someone has elected to speak on behalf of his club, seemingly without consent, and therefore undermined his authority."

I am equally sure that Celtic will be less than thrilled that Pleat has commented on matters which 'the contents of these discussions will remain private' as Pleat himself stated to the BBC.

Well they certainly aren't private any more are they George?

While attention will now be drawn again to the sub-standard refereeing performances of Craig Thompson and Steve Conroy in this season's Celtic-Rangers games that situation was pre-empted by Hugh Dallas last week when he admitted to disappointing decisions from his whistlers.

Pleat's own position must surely be scrutinised after this ill-advised, or carefully planned, comment but looking through the ranks of the SFA office bearers there are no obvious candidates ready to step in and offer sensible guidance and leadership.
BBC story link

Hugh Dallas disappointing decisions

More strange refereeing decisions in a strange season

As Andreas Hinkel said after the recent draw with Falkirk there have been a lot of strange decisions against Celtic this season.

Continuing that theme tonight was another below par performance from Iain Brines littered with puzzling decisions which all went one way.

Tony Mowbray is responsible for the problems and failings of the Celtic team such as why Artur Boruc allowed a striker a free header in the six yard box from a corner and how Georgios Samaras manages to head over the bar from similar distances.

Mowbray's future rests on decisions like that.

Brines however appears answerable to no-one although it's no surprise that he no longer gets matches from UEFA and that Scottish referees will be watching the World Cup and later stages of the Champions League on television.

Throughout the entire match Brines gave puzzling decisions culminating in disallowing a 'goal' from Darren O'Dea just before half time.

From his vantage point outside the penalty box he disallowed the 'goal' without any appeal or claim coming from the Hibs players.

Earlier on he had penalised Samaras for nothing more than an ordinary challenge on Graeme Hogg that allowed the striker to turn the Hibs captain and head for goal.

Into the second half and Paul Hanlon flies into a two footed 'challenge' on Andreas Hinkel and escapes without as much as a word in his ear from the now lenient Brines.

There were no other dangerous fouls from the Hibs players but they could put in fouls in telling areas knowing that there was no prospect of a booking with Brines content to award a free-kick without even speaking to the offender.

Celtic's finishing was woeful with a number of chances created and missed, these matters are for Mowbray to address and be held responsible for.

With Celtic pushing forward for the winner substitute Ki Sung Yeung was fouled 25 yards from goal but rather than get a last chance from a set piece Brines waved play on.

Hibs quickly fed the ball to Anthony Stokes who pushed it into the path of substitute Danny Galbraith whose low shot across Boruc found the corner of the net.

An evening of strange decisions in a strange season from our match officials.

As Hinkel said after the draw with Falkirk: “As a player you give your best, but here, week after week, there is something happening.

“It's not really my thing to say something about referees but once again we had some strange decisions. Not just the penalty- look at the situation when Artur had a free-kick given against him.

“It hurts when we don't take chances but it just seems to be one thing after another at the moment.”

Hinkel breaks the silence: 'strange decisions'

Andreas Hinkel has spoken out about the number of strange decisions that have gone against Celtic this season.

The full-back was the victim of a savage attack from Kyle Lafferty on January 3 that was 'punished' with a yellow card and was left puzzled and confused by the decisions of referee Alan Muir in the 1-1 draw with Falkirk.

Despite Celtic's many failings they still deserve a fair crack of the whip when it comes to decision making but on a consistent basis they are finding referees poorly positioned or having their views obstructed.

After a penalty claim against Dundee United earlier this season Craig Levein joked that his player 'was disappointed that he never held on to the ball' when quizzed about a possible handball against Darren Dods.

Both games against Rangers have seen strange decisions made although in fairness to Craig Thomson he did issue a second hand watered down apology for not giving Celtic a penalty at Ibrox in October.

Mild mannered and laid back Hinkel is a stranger to the Scottish game after arriving at Celtic two years ago from Seville.

Clearly reluctant to criticise officials the Celtic defender found it difficult to hold back when asked about Saturday's penalty incident involving Marco Fortune and Falkirk defender Brian McLean.

Hinkel said: “I don't want to blame the referee because we had enough chances to win the game but we had some strange decisions against us. Maybe this has added to our problems.

“As a player you give your best, but here, week after week, there is something happening.

“It's not really my thing to say something about referees but once again we had some strange decisions. Not just the penalty- look at the situation when Artur had a free-kick given against him.”

Hinkel's curiosity about the run of decisions this season extends to the predictable backing that referees can expect from their retired former colleagues who fall over themselves to back officials in their newspaper columns.

The defender added: “I've read a few newspaper columns from other referees and they tell me that the match officials here are very good!

“I just want to give my best as a player and I'm always calm but, if it's too much, then I want to speak out about things.

“I read one referee saying another had done everything right and that was in the last game against Rangers.

“It hurts when we don't take chances but it just seems to be one thing after another at the moment.”

Tony Mowbray has been reluctant to comment on decisions in after-match interviews but did speak out through The Celtic View about the decisions of Steve Conroy against Rangers.

In other circumstances Hinkel's comments would be dismissed a paranoia and sour grapes but the German usually remains calm and detached from controversies as he showed during the Lafferty incident.

His comments could bring about a call from the SFA to explain his comments which would certainly make compulsive viewing.

Burying their head in the sand and pretending that it never happened however is a more common tactic from the SFA who can rely on the BBC to overlook certain penalty incidents in their carefully edited highlights.

Decision time for Dallas and the SFA: Miller v Collum

Will the SFA, Hugh Dallas and referee Willie Collum stand firm on the red card shown to Kenny Miller against Dundee United?

Every football club works the system as much as possible to gain advantage with the right of appeal open to Rangers since the ordering off was for violent conduct.

Overturning the decision or delaying a decision has obvious consequences with Miller facing a one match ban which would be against Celtic on Sunday.

Referee Collum had a perfect uninterupted view of the incident, if on reviewing the incident he changes his mind it must put a massive question mark over his ability to officiate at the top level.

Collum was widely praised for his split second judgement that resulted in Gary Caldwell being sent off against Hearts, a much harder call bearing in mind his position and the quickness of the incident.

The incident was typical of many in the game where players collide with arms and legs 'accidentally' hitting each other as they fall or get up off the ground.

Aberdeen defender Jerel Ifil was sent off for a similar incident with Georgios Samaras in the recent Celtic-Aberdeen match.

The timing and circumstances of the incident and appeal couldn't have been worse for the SFA with a decision, or non decision, having implications for the Celtic-Rangers fixture.

It would be easy to draw comparisions to the case of Glenn Loovens where an appeal against a suspension allowed Loovens to play on with his suspension subject to appeal.

That case however was different because Loovens wasn't disciplined during a match, his offence was highlighted by the Review Panel who have undefined powers to look into cases at a whim.

With referees under severe pressure this season the Miller/Collum incident has far reaching consequences.

If a top level referee can't get a case of violent conduct right from 10 yards away it will be open season for clubs to appeal and criticise referees at will.

BBC highlights of Miller sending off

Too many mistakes from referee Thomson

by Joe McHugh Firstly, without doubt Celtic have major defensive problems to iron out. The players, supporters and Tony Mowbray know that, it is what Mowbray is paid to do and judged on.

The defending at Ibrox wasn't a great surprise, a solid reliable central defensive partnership is the basis for any teams success.

Mowbray will no doubt be pouring over dvd's of recent games, possible replacements and 30 years experience in the game to improve his side's defending.

What will the SFA, Hugh Dallas and Craig Thomson be doing to improve the sub-standard display of the referee at Sunday's game?

MISTAKEN
If they think that a glib apology of sorts within 24 hours of the match finishing will satisfy 'customers' who invest millions into the game every season they are badly mistaken.

If the 12th minute penalty incident was Thomson's only mistake it would be easier to accept, everyone makes mistakes, from bloggers to referees and all sorts of professions inbetween, mistakes are part of our everyday life.

The tone of the apology, or admission, to be more accurate, leaves a lot to be desired. Thomson himself has said nothing, his admission has come through Dallas without any sort of explanation, the statement didn't even refer to Celtic but the visiting team.

STATEMENT IN FULL FROM DALLAS
"Taking charge of an Old Firm game is both high profile and challenging. Referees are well aware that their performance will be judged on calling the major decisions correctly.

"Craig and I have had our post match de-brief. Whilst I would compliment Craig for his overall handling of yesterday's encounter, he is disappointed at his error of judgement when he decided against awarding a penalty to the visiting team in the 12th minute.

"Our referees are fitter than they have ever been and our referees are better prepared for matches than they have ever been. We are working each and every day with our top officials to make sure that they are in a position to get the big calls right. However, mistakes are part and parcel of football. I think that it says a lot for the character and professionalism of Craig that he has been more than willing to hold his hands up on this one."

What exactly was his problem with the incident, pictured above? Thomson had a clear view of it and as he demonstrated throughout the rest of the match he wasn't shy at throwing around yellow cards for simulation.

His explanation through Dallas provides no insight, from the picture above he should have had a clear view of the challenge.

If Weir didn't foul Maloney then surely the Celtic midfielder should have been booked?

A decision had to be made but the referee refused. He showed by his willingness to book Maloney and Mark Wilson later in the game that he would book players that he believed had attempted to cheat him into awarding a penalty.

Did he have a doubt over Maloney 'diving'?

Did he look to his linesman for assistance?

Did he see nothing at all?

Was that the only incident that he reviewed afterwards?

Thomson went on to make a lot of questionable decisions throughout the game. Again in isolation there was no big deal on the other incidents but put into a 90 minute performance when the ball is in play for around an hour it is a worrying level of bad judgements.

Some decisions that could have been given differently.

14min) Maloney booked for simulation, could it have been a penalty and yellow card for Weir and a Celtic penalty?

52min) Could Weir have been booked for a foul on Scott McDonald where he ran his studs down McDonald's calf?

62min) Kyle Lafferty puts his boot into Zheng Zhi, could that have been a booking on it's own or for persistent fouling from Lafferty?

66min) Mark Wilson booked for simulation? Horrendous 'acting' from the full-back, not in the Eduardo class, or maybe his heels were clipped?

RETROSPECTIVELY
There were other incidents that could be looked at closely and we know that Thomson does like to review all aspects of his performances, as recently as May of this year he requested that the SFA look into a challenge by Glenn Loovens on Maurice Edu retrospectively.

Surely the SFA should be very concerned if Thomson feels that the 12th minute incident was his only mistake of the day.

Just like all those innocent MP's that mistakenly claimed expenses for mortgages that had long been paid off or for the adult movies enjoyed by their partner everyone makes mistakes, it's human nature.

If an MP can't monitor their mortgage payments then they aren't fit for office, if Thomson can't make a clear cut penalty decision without Rangers being two goals up he shouldn't be refereeing.

PROMOTED
The level of mistakes made by Thomson should be a big concern to the SFA who have perhaps promoted the guy way above his level.

Mistakes of the magnitude that were witnessed on Sunday should be kept well away from the prying eyes of Sky Sports and a worldwide audience, it's little wonder that Uefa and Fifa don't give a second thought to Scottish officials when it comes to Champions League and major international appointments.

There is nothing that can be done to alter the result from Sunday but a long term demotion of Thomson by the SFA would leave other referees in no doubt that failure to call big decisions in big matches won't be rewarded.

So what if Celtic had got three first half penalties at Ibrox in front of the Copland Road stand?

APOLOGY
As recently as December 2006 referee Kenny Clark came out with another apology after failing to 'see' a penalty at the same part of the ground after Stevie Smith fouled Neil Lennon.

Getting firm with officials who opt out of key decisions should be the priority of the SFA rather than applauding half hearted third party admissions that a mistake has been made.

These decisions don't even themselves up over the course of a season, I'd think that there is a very good chance that Celtic will be awarded a penalty in one of their next matches, it might even be a marginal decision.

After the apology from Clark three years ago Celtic were given a penalty against Falkirk in their next match, their first penalty of the season and predicted by John Hughes before the game.

Anyone that thinks that a penalty awarded when you are four goals up at home to Falkirk compares with being denied a penalty when one goal up away to Rangers has no idea about the game.

Celtic supporters will look to Mowbray to eradicate the problems in their defence, the SFA should be looking closely at officials who for whatever reason don't make key decisions.

Thomson's errors will put every single referee under greater scrutiny than ever, the referee appointed for the January 2 Celtic-Rangers match will be in a lose-lose situation.

Going through every match, decision by decision, isn't practical and will destroy the concept of refereeing but equally decision making like Thomson's on Saturday brings refereeing into disrepute.

Unless the SFA take serious action now the problem will continue to resurface and the outside world will wonder what is going on when they look in on the Scottish game.

A third rate, third hand admission does no-one any favours.