The SFA Head of Refereeing, John Fleming, spoke about the semi-final incident on Sunday, largely to protect his fraternity. Referee Steven McLean made a huge error but Fleming said “I don’t think there was anyone in the ground who would have thought it was 100% a penalty and sending off until they had seen the replay.”
This flies in the face of the Celtic players who claimed for a penalty on the spot, the raised voices from thousands of Celtic supporters, and the shout from the TV commentator. Fleming’s assertion is demonstrably untrue.
He is a man in a position of authority at the SFA. He is allowed to have opinions, or to disagree with any club, but making untrue statements to protect his referees is a wholly inappropriate. If is the standard referees are held to, no wonder we have problems. Having asked for clarification on the refereeing error yesterday, I expect Celtic will be even keener on an explanation for Fleming’s incredulous comment.
I’ve linked here to a Stanford University report on Omission Bias in Sports. The report finds that people are biased to favour inaction (i.e. don’t make a decision) over action (make a decision which will have a profound impact).
It’s an interesting concept which good refereeing guidance will account for. They found that “For all sports, effect [is]stronger if game is close and weak when score is lopsided”.
Omission bias is what we should be looking for in Scottish football. Evidence this video of former referee Kenny Clark, who while still officiating SPL games told an audience that he held a grudge against Celtic’s John Hartson and failed to award him a foul which he saw clearly enough to describe in some detail.
Unfortunately, no journalist has ever been able to contact Mr Clark to ask him about his grudges or omission bias. If this was England, the media would not allow Clark to flaunt omission bias while defending it in others, he would be called to account.
See above, Sunday’s officials greeting each other on the pitch before kick off. Before the dust settles on this one, some of us better learn a new handshake. Those wanting real change at the SFA will have to fight for it.
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Leigh Griffiths – says Celts will ‘bounce’ back
Now Rankin saying his hand WASN’T in an un-natural position.
No doubt Celtic will be portrayed as the villians of this piece with Meekins getting suspended.
Meekings should miss the final because Celtic should be in it.
Big Hartson saying we should move on that Celtic feel the world is against them but its untrue. H.H.
I kid you not
Grant Russell@STVGrant · 5 mins5 minutes ago
Many asking for interpretation on Meekings’ handball being “deliberate” or not. Here’s Steven McLean explaining rule http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/26159324 …
If Celtic had missed the penalty and Caley were down to ten men, we still would have won.
Just heard Hartson take on it. Oh dear how the mighty have fallen.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/celtic-send-letter-to-uefa-about-resolution-12/#more-6195
Meekings comments after the game: I know man hand is in an un natural position but what am I supposed to do?”
timjim
Hehehehe
Phils Latest on Res 12…The Battles on Now ..This is THE FIGHT..
Go On..
tonydonnelly67
Who writes your script?????
Onthewing
Wow!
You just made my day.
LB
Phils latest on Celtic-very interesting re res 12
Celtic are going to get them BIG TIME! por cierto
Ding done round 1
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/celtic-send-letter-to-uefa-about-resolution-12/#more-6195
Interesting timing. No such thing as a co-incidence.
Any of the Res12 bhoys shed any light on this, as I thought Celtic were being very slow in taking this up and leaving it to the Res12 bhoys to sort. Has there been a change of tact?
HH
CRC
Disappointed that those who started and ran with res 12 didn’t get to bring us up to date
Canman and all
Well done
*dong
Have the SFA got a sponsor, if so bet they are pissed of with the official. Be lucky if they 30K at the Final.
TimJim. Big Hartson wants to run with the hare and to hunt with the hounds he is a big soup taker. At least Sutton said in it was out of order but Hartson has gone down in my estimation.H.H.
there is 30K
Phil’s blog has just made my day.
Have we finally grown a pair?
I really hope to God with all my heart that justice prevails and The SFA are shown up for what they really are …. Small minded , anti Celtic bigots
I genuinely believe that the message will this time, sink into the heads of Refs & Officials that they will not get away with cheating Celtic.
If video technology is brought in it will be a huge step forward in cleaning up the Scottish Game in particular.
We want no favours just a level playing field and fair play. After that we will look after ourselves.
I believe its now very important that our team steps up to the plate tomorrow night and secure a decent win.
Hopefully Sunday’s events have convinced Celtic to go for it on all fronts.
Sunday may be a watershed in more ways than one with hopefully an outcome that tells the whole world what we are up against
Forth time today top of the page, Surely surely I deserve a mini podium
Looks like the growing season has started
I’ve just caught up with the BBC’s report which is a gross exaggeration in that it implies Celtic asked the SFA to explain why Meekins wasn’t dismissed when we all know Celtic asked the SFA for an explanation of the referees decision process.
Celtic being scape goated, well there’s a novelty.
Grrrrr, anyway, I applaud John Hughes at what he’s achieved at ICT, but in the cold light of day it a mute point whether his team would have progressed had Muir and McLean applied the rules correctly, even allowing for errors.
I find it incomprehensible that two highly qualified (grade 1 you know) SFA officials managed to get in such a mucking fuddle!
I’m off for a fortnight’s holiday, I hope to catch up as this and other elements seem to be coming together to give the SFA an uncomfortable ride over the next few weeks.
God bless all Tims.
BT-As CRC said,timing could be key after Sunday….HH
Just saw PMcG’s post. Very good news, if true.
Also, if true, a quick whip around to buy a drink (or two, or three …. you get my point) for a few of the gents who post on here and who have worked so hard on this issue would be in order. Without their indefatigabillity, I question whether this would have happened.
I would be happy to contribute in whatever way possible to thank those gents …
Go after the whole House of Cards,referees and all….
Sfa and their smsm brothers are predictable if nothing else.
Like dougiegate they will try and rewrite history.
Fleming has come out with the same nonsense Dallas did.
In dougiegate the assistant was made the fall guy.
This time it’s the offending player. We’re already hearing stories of Meekings’ mental torture.
Next, it’ll be sympathy gaining stories about the match officials.
Expect, some harassment or maybe even “death threat” stories, with no back up evidence. Before we know it we’ll be back to a refs strike,and guess what? It’ll be all Big Bad Celtic’s fault.
Some of players need to take a good hard look at themselves…
Nothing short of a convincing victory against Dundee will quell my doubts regards some of our supposed first team players.
And for record, I hope K.C is injured.
Phils story must be bunkum.
I mean, who has ever heard of someone getting a great case together with the I’s dotted and t’s crossed before presenting it?
Can’t be true. We woulda heard every single detail about it every day in full if it were legit.
For Auldheid
https://twitter.com/theclumpany/status/590577769937039360
ruggyman. Surely its a bit out of order to wish a player is injured ? It is fine to hope a player is not selected but injured no thats not right. H.H.
The Res 12 Thing..
This is The Fight..Fought in Europe with repercusions felt in Scotland…If The Guys like Auldheid And Co are Right..This is The Battle we Can Win…Pick The Battles You Can Win…The whole thing About The ICT thing was…It Was IMPOSSBLE to win..Thats whats been Doing My Head…People losing it over something UNPROVABLE….Hope The Guys Behind Res 12..fkin NAIL these people. Really Do…Now we Have A Title To Win. Lets Win It…Best ive felt in Days..