Loovens appeal rejected by SFA- defender misses Motherwell match

Glenn Loovens appeal against a retrospective one match ban has been rejected by the SFA.

The defender will be suspended for Saturday's home match against Motherwell giving the Gary Caldwell-Stephen McManus partnership another chance.

The original offence was reported by Craig Thomson after reviewing the Rangers-Celtic match on May 9, so far Thomson has failed to report any incidents from the October 4 meeting between the clubs that he feels are worth reviewing.

A statement from the SFA said: "A Disciplinary Appeals Tribunal met today at the National Stadium, Hampden Park, to consider an Appeal from Celtic FC.

"This was in respect of a decision made by the Scottish FA's Disciplinary Committee on 7th August regarding the player Glenn Loovens.

"Following a clash between the player concerned and Maurice Edu during the match Celtic v Rangers on 9th May of this year, the incident was referred to the SFA Review Panel. After consideration of the incident, the Review Panel then referred the matter to the Disciplinary Committee.

"The Committee found Glenn Loovens guilty of misconduct of a significantly serious nature and he was given a one match ban and had 12 points added to his 2008/2009 Disciplinary points total.

"Today the Disciplinary Appeals Tribunal refused the appeal. The suspension is effective immediately which will rule the player out of the Celtic v Motherwell match this Saturday."

After Thomson's performance in the recent Rangers-Celtic match this weekends referees will be under even greater scrutiny than ever despite an apology of sorts being issued by Hugh Dallas regarding one of the penalty incidents that Thomson missed on October 4.

Super-fit Craig Thomson admites to 'many crucial decisions'

by Joe McHugh Craig Thomson is really fit, he works out in the gym every day and has his fitness monitored constantly by the SFA. On Wednesday the SFA decided to let Sky Sports know just how fit Thomson is.

After his performance on Sunday the fitness of the referee is of no concern to anyone unless the SFA are trying to send some sort of message down south where Sir Alex Ferguson publicly criticised the fitness of referee Alan Wiley after his side drew 2-2 with Sunderland.

As a diversion tactic to the scrutiny, largely online, that Thomson's performance has attracted since Sunday the fitness feature was virtually pointless.

Daley Thompson was the fittest man on the planet throughout the eighties but was never put forward for football refereeing, basic fitness is expected of a referee and as the pictures and video from Sunday showed Thomson was perfectly placed to make decisions, his placing and fitness weren't issues, it wasn't a case of Arsene Wenger-like problems of not seeing the incidents.

INTERVIEW

Thomson did speak during the interview and interestingly did suggest that there were other tough decisions to call but since he refused to discuss them it's not unreasonable to conclude that he felt that he got the other major decisions correct in the match.

Word for word Sunday's referee said: "I'll never probably have another game where I have so many decisions, of crucial decisions to make within the first thirty minutes of the game.

"Making mistakes, we're only human like players, players make the same mistakes but that's the way that we develop as referees, there's no point going away from the game and not learning from the game.

"It's a big pill to swallow at times."

Thomson never came across as very confident or comfortable speaking but that's maybe just my interpretation.

He mentions the number of crucial decisions that he had to make in the first thirty minutes, since he's only admitted to one mistake, without any explanation being given for that mistake, it's safe to assume that he feels that he got Shaun Maloney's booking correct when many of us thought that a penalty should have been awarded.

QUESTIONABLE

There were further crucial decisions throughout the game that looked questionable, David Weir and Kyle Lafferty managed to avoid being booked while Mark Wilson has already gone on record saying that his booking was incorrect.

Will the SFA ask Wilson to explain his comments to the Celtic website or will they hope that the issue is forgotten and that everything moves on.

After side-stepping the penalty issues on Sunday Tony Mowbray has spoken out about it to the Celtic View, using the club's own magazine to communicate his thoughts to the supporters.

The Celtic manager said: "I have watched the incidents back and I don't think it would have been harsh if we got three penalties, but we can't question the referee's motives.

"He made a decision based on what he thought was right and in the aftermath he has changed his mind, but it's a bit too late for us."

Mowbray uses his words wisely and like Wilson it will be interesting to see if the SFA ask him to explain his comments.

APPEALING

The whole issue is unlikely to die down with Glenn Loovens appealing against a one match retrospective suspension handed out after an incident was reported to the SFA after Thomson reviewed the Rangers-Celtic game in May.

The timing of this appeal must be a nightmare and Celtic's approach will to the appeal will be thorough.

In 2005 the club were satisfied when a three match suspension was handed to Neil Lennon when much lengthier bans were being suggested, that outcome greatly upset Stuart Dougal who had issued Lennon with a red card after a 3-1 Celtic defeat at Ibrox.

Lennon was represented at that hearing by the SPFA's Fraser Wishart, Gordon Strachan and lawyer Rod McKenzie, Loovens is likely to receive similar support.

EXPLAINING

The SFA are perfectly entitled to stick by their one match ban on Loovens but explaining it will be much more difficult.

What is the criteria for retrospective suspensions, was the Loovens-Maurice Edu the only incident in the match worth looking at again?

How many retrospective suspensions are handed out over a season?

Does every referee watch a tape of their matches to look for decisions that they missed?

Celtic have kept a low profile over the decisions at Sunday's match, the comments coming from Mowbray and Wilson suggest that that shouldn't be interpreted as acceptance, the Loovens appeal next week will show the club's strength of feeling about these decisions.

In every walk of life people are judged, if a referee can't get the big decisions right other referees should be given the chance to show that they have the decision making qualities as well as fitness for the big occasions.

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.