I must begin this article by stating that Celtic need to get our own house in order. We have been poor and would have been trailing in the title race regardless of referees. Similarly, other Scottish clubs need to focus on their performances and suchlike. However, Scottish football clubs should still be asking questions about some of the baffling decisions that have been given this season. How else can you protect the integrity of the game or ensure a better standard of officiating in the future?
We had evidence of wrongdoing with Resolution 12/11 and the Five Way Agreement. Sadly, this was portrayed as a Celtic motivated issue, when it should have been of interest to all Scottish clubs to stand up against corruption – not just Celtic. Other clubs were affected in terms of European places, albeit Celtic were most affected. It’s not just about that though, it’s about protecting the game. Why would any club want foul play to be allowed?
That issue has been buried now. In the past we have seen Fergus McCann take the SFA to court and win. Jim Farry was a proven cheat. Dougie McDonald was exposed as a liar when his linesman outed him after he overturned Celtic’s penalty at Tannadice. Hugh Dallas has been forced to resign due to being caught out sending sectarian emails. Throughout that time no club stood up to demand fair play.
A watch of Anyone But Celtic and details of the Lanarkshire Referees Association make for compelling viewing:
As does the alleged corruption exposed in the Asterisk Years.
Again, for those who will laugh and dismiss this, Celtic are to blame for being in second spot. However, that doesn’t mean that consistently poor officiating in favour of one club can go unchallenged. It’s not a Celtic issue. It is a Scottish football issue.
After all that history, documented evidence, Five Way Agreements, EBTs gaining “no sporting advantage” even after a former Rangers Manager admitted that without them they couldn’t have matched Celtic, UEFA License blunders, liquidation meaning death for Gretna but not for others, Dougie’s lies at Tannadice, Jim Farry exposed in court, Hugh Dallas exposed as a bigot etc. we have still seen bizarre officiating.
Sometimes clubs get wrong decisions going their way. These are what Scottish football calls “honest mistakes.” Celtic have been the benefactor of two honest mistakes recently – the offside goal scored by Nir Bitton and the offside goal scored in the League Cup Final last season. Those were close, but replays showed that they were offside. Other clubs up and down the country have experienced similar situations time and time again. The issue is when one club continuously gets wrong decisions in their favour.
This is about the protection of integrity and fairness in Scottish football. If there is no foul play, then there needs to be an improvement in standards. The issue should concern all football supporters, not just Celtic fans.
The first 2 photos – showing Beaton celebrating in the Crown Bar, Bellshill after the game on 29 Dec 2018 – were later deleted, but they still think it’s something to boast about on their pinned tweet. pic.twitter.com/GFOovK7olf
— ☯CarlJungleBhoy❋ (@CarlJungleBhoy) October 9, 2020
One team in the SPFL has not received a single red card or had a penalty given against them all season. That same team has had the most penalties awarded in their favour. Just in the last few weeks there are examples where terrible decisions in favour of this one club have impacted Hibernian, Dundee United, Motherwell and Aberdeen. Other clubs such as Celtic are indirectly affected when the forutitous club in question continues to rack up points as a result. Again, before I am shot down, Celtic have themselves to blame for being in second place. Eight wins in 22 is not good enough, but that doesn’t mean fair play is disregarded or the standard of officiating shouldn’t be improved for the good of the game moving forward.
Hibernian were hard done by when they weren’t awarded two penalties at Ibrox during a 1-0 defeat on Boxing Day. The footage at 4 minutes 51 seconds shows a blatant high foot in front of the referee which didn’t merit a spot kick.
Dundee United were impacted during their narrow 2-1 loss to the Ibrox side on 13 December 2020. Incredibly, this blatant elbow didn’t warrant a red card for Morelos. A retrospective ban did little to help the Arabs as they lost all three points.
The Morelos elbow smash in the face tour continues around the SPFL grounds. The Ref sees it but gives a yellow, that’ll save him getting penalised and serving a ban by video review then! #gettingawaywithitagain pic.twitter.com/E1FRlVJFMS
— matt mcglone (@MattMcGlone9) December 13, 2020
Dubious red cards were awarded against Aberdeen and Celtic during recent matches against the same club. Aberdeen’s defender accidentally tripped the striker, conceding a penalty, but despite the incident being totally accidental a red card was produced alongside a penalty kick – which goes against the idea of double jeopardy.
Nir Bitton was sent off for Celtic for denying a goalscoring opportunity. This one wasn’t a howler, but he was 40 yards away from goal. It was a 50/50 call but there was no surprise to see which way it went. On the other hand, not even a yellow card was produced for this offence in the same match…
Morelos on Frimpong and Davis on McGregor( I think it was him) I don't have video of it, yet pic.twitter.com/GIM0fKvSEJ
— Patrick S Murphy (@PatrickSMurphy4) January 2, 2021
Then El Buffalo got away with raising his hands in front of the referee, before the ref physically restrains him to prevent the player from having to be ordered off.
Morelos got away with a stamp on Frimpong's ankle eary on & seemed to give Brown a wee dig here too? It's a man's game but Referees need to to be seen to be consistent in games. pic.twitter.com/KTb3VsGUdG
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog_09) January 3, 2021
Graham Alexander’s Motherwell were the next victims as victory was snatched from them with an offside goal.
🔊LISTEN: Graham Alexander thinks Rangers' equaliser should have been disallowed.
"I didn't see it at the time – but seeing it after – it looks like an offside goal". pic.twitter.com/FpTNrJpklB
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) January 17, 2021
Last night, we saw Hibs fall victim to a string off dreadful decisions against a team from Govan again. Firstly, Morelos was not sent off for a clear stamp.
Gary Caldwell believes Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos was lucky to escape a red card after appearing to stamp on Hibernian's Ryan Porteous during their match on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/8EMErdr8yy
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 28, 2021
Then the Easter Road men were denied a clear penalty for a push in the back.
Looks like a penalty to me pic.twitter.com/gYlMlOjK3O
— David O'Neill (@oneillhippo) January 27, 2021
Goldson must have been shocked as it’s not like him to escape a blatant penalty concession… oh wait.
😬 Connor Goldson and Rangers got away with one just before the break…
🗣 "He's unlucky not to catch that!"
💬 "How they've missed that, I don't know. It's a clear penalty kick." pic.twitter.com/1tRETNYGC8
— Premier Sports 📺 (@PremierSportsTV) February 8, 2020
These are just a few recent decisions that come to mind. I must stress for a final time – this is NOT a Celtic issue. This is a Scottish football issue. Questions should be asked about consistently poor decision making. Conspiracy or not, there needs to be a better standard of decision making in Scottish football.
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