CELTIC have been hit by a paltry £4,000 SFA fine over the conduct of their players following a controversial penalty-kick decision in the holders’ 2-1 Scottish Cup victory over Partick Thistle last month.
Ropey ref Alan Muir awarded the Firhill outfit a spot-kick in the fading moments following a perfectly-executed goal-saving challenge from Jeremie Frimpong on the Jags’ Dario Zanatta. .
TV pictures proved conclusively the Dutch teenager had raced back to put in a legal tackle to prevent the Maryhill outfit scoring a consolation effort with the Hoops already two goals ahead with strikes from Leigh Griffiths and Callum McGregor.
PENALTY – WHAT PENALTY? Jeremie Frimpong clearly prevents Dario Zanatta a scoring chance with a timely intervention as ref Alan Muir gets a clear view of the incident.
ON THE SPOT…Jozo Simunovic pleads with the match official to think again about his decision that gifted Thistle a consolation goal.
Frimpong was erroneously booked by Muir and Stuart Brannigan netted from the award to put a better complexion on the scoreline.
The Hoops players protested at the match official’s bewildering decision, but the incident passed without mention.
Neil Lennon’s men had been aggrieved in the first-half when Muir denied them what looked like a stonewaller when Thistle left-back James Penrice pushed over Frimpong in the box to send him toppling after the teenager had sped past him.
Astonishingly, the whistler turned a blind eye to the blatant incident which mystified onlookers – as did his later decision to award the Jags a spot-kick.
* SO VAR SO GOOD -THANKS TO FORSTER
