Sympathy for the ref, cynicism for SFA

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Yesterday’s referee Craig Thomson is getting it from all quarters but I have some sympathy for him.  He saw the Scott Brown tackle and took no action.  The challenge was executed with extreme force but also with laser-like accuracy.  It didn’t injure or foul anyone.

Aiden Connolly dived to win Dundee United’s penalty.  Thomson could not have seen an infraction, because there wasn’t one, but when a player attempts to con a referee like this, it’s impossible for the ref to get it right all the time.

Virgil got involved with Butcher, both players on the ground, carelessly kicking away.  Both should have been cautioned.  Fifa guidelines entitle the referee to interpret this behaviour as a sending off offence, if he deems it appropriate- however, Thomson didn’t see it and took no action until his assistant, Graham Chambers, got involved.

It was evident from the length of time Thomson spoke to Chambers that the assistant was getting the third degree on what he claimed to have seen.  The ref asked several questions of his assistant to verify how sure he was of what he saw.  It was clear this was not corroborated by the Thomson’s own account.

Neither of them saw Nadir Ciftci kick Scott Brown on the head.  I didn’t see it either until I watched the incident a couple of times.

Chambers got things spectacularly wrong.  Like most others he missed the worst incident (Ciftci), advised the referee into red carding two players who should have been cautioned, and, to demonstrate how flustered he was, failed to notice which United player he put his arm on and led away from the action.

When a referee has an assistant, and a player like Connolly, to work with, he’s going to have a bad day.

As far as retrospective action is concerned: Scott Brown is in the clear, the referee saw what he did and was happy with it.  Ciftci presumably will be banned for violent conduct.  Connolly should be banned for simulation, unless Ronny is right that this rule applies only when players wear green and white hoops.  Paton should have his red card rescinded.

Virgil van Dijk has a case to have his red card reduced to a yellow – however – this being the SFA, I don’t think that will happen, as he is tied to Calum Butcher’s situation, and that is more complex.  If Virgil has his card reduced to a yellow, so too should Butcher, but Butcher was later booked – which would have been his second yellow.

A player who the assistant referee intended to remove from the field would not have been on to receive his booking had the assistant not nabbed the wrong player.  He also didn’t have the benefit of taking his caution into account.

The SFA will stick their fingers in their ears and insist the assistant’s initial interpretation was right, just to avoid the unholy mess of banning Butcher for two yellow cards while not banning the Celtic player, or deciding that Butcher’s (actual) yellow card should be ignored due to the player unfairly missing out on a caution.

Countdown is on to Friday night’s CQN11 St Patrick’s Dinner at the Kerrydale Suite, tickets will be in the post today.

Between now and then you can win a Celtic jersey signed by the 2008 squad, who won one of the most remarkable titles in our history.  All proceeds go towards building a fourth CQN school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals.

It’s been humbling watching people come forward and do their bit in recent weeks.  Tickets cost £5 each, you know how valuable this is to those kids and families in Malawi.  Buy your ticket here, or click the link at the bottom of that page to buy a book of tickets.

Friday’s programme is about to go to press…  The wee guy with the spoon is not from a stock photo, he’s been served at a kitchen YOU PAID FOR last year.  Stunning stuff.

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648 Comments

  1. Sipsini has an aura all around him.

     

    You’ll spot him a mile off.

     

    Her name’s Rita and she’s done well to get him …. or so he tells her!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  2. Like no other on

    Posted tonight on HunMedia:-

     

     

     

     

    WATBB’s PhotoWATBB

     

    Today, 09:11 PM

     

    IBROX REFURBISHMENT:

     

     

    “I am looking to collate a list of volunteers who are willing to give up a few hours or days of their time to help with essential work at Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park. Tradesmen in all trades are especially required but there is also plenty work for the unskilled. This is our chance to show Rangers fans simply are the best by helping our club in its hour of need. If you are willing to muck in and help get our stadium back to its best. Give me a call on 07********** . Tradesmen in Joinery , Electricians, Welders, Painters, Plasterers , Bricklayers etc are especially welcome. Even if just for a couple of hours per week. Join up with Ibrox refurb today and lets get our club back where we belong . I m waiting for your calls.”

     

     

    ~Allan Woods.

     

     

     

     

    Interested members can PM me for the number, but only if they are genuine posters. Those with a handful of posts won’t get it. Thanks.

     

     

    Edited by OlegKuznetsov, Today, 09:22 PM.

     

    Mobile number hidden for privacy.

     

    ————————————————-

     

     

     

    Aww, bless. Break your heart, so it would.

     

     

    HH

  3. Jamesgang

     

     

    Diving is what I hate more than anything too. It is beyond contempt on my moral compass.

     

    Rugby always was a game played by men with funny shaped halls but we could learn a lot about respecting referees, marketing the match experience etc from that game….

  4. Like no other on

    And there’s more……….

     

     

     

    “Duncan Disorderly, on 09 Mar 2015 – 10:31 PM, said:

     

    I know from my line of work that the roofs of three stands (Copland, Broomloan and Govan) are in desperate need of repair.

     

    Any roofers/cladders out there that can help would be greatly appreciated..

     

     

    I can confirm this is the case, it’s not just labour that’s needed though … sheets, mastic, etc are required to fix those sheets along with gutter liners”

     

     

    ————————————————–

     

     

    It’s bob-a-job week at Ibroke

     

    HH

  5. F.A.B. Virgil on

    Jamesgang

     

     

    Taking a wild guess here but unlikely to be as possssshhhhh as chezjamesgang :-)

     

     

    HH

  6. Cannot believe that some so called Celtic fans having a go at Jackie Mac

     

     

    Facts are he got a testimonial

     

    He was our captain

     

    He had not been offered an extension due to fact he did not fit into peter lawells sell sell sell policy as he would have no resale value

     

    At the last minute he was called in to be offered a massive pay cut. Jackie left the meeting and drive to Wolverhampton

     

     

    Eye on in real enemy bhoys. Or peter lawell

  7. !!Bada Bing!! on

    like no other

     

     

    22:51 on 9 March, 2015Posted tonight on HunMedia:-WATBB’s PhotoWATBBToday, 09:11 PMIBROX REFURBISHMENT:“I am looking to collate a list of volunteers who are willing to give up a few hours or days of their time to help with essential work at Ibrox Stadium and Murray Park. Tradesmen in all trades are especially required but there is also plenty work for the unskilled. This is our chance to show Rangers fans simply are the best by helping our club in its hour of need. If you are willing to muck in and help get our stadium back to its best. Give me a call on 07********** . Tradesmen in Joinery , Electricians, Welders, Painters, Plasterers , Bricklayers etc are especially welcome. Even if just for a couple of hours per week. Join up with Ibrox refurb today and lets get our club back where we belong . I m waiting for your calls.”~Allan Woods.Interested members can PM me for the number, but only if they are genuine posters. Those with a handful of posts won’t get it. Thanks.Edited by OlegKuznetsov, Today, 09:22 PM.Mobile number hidden for privacy.————————————————-Aww, bless. Break your heart, so it would.HH

     

     

    DIY SOS……..Sons of Struth…:)

  8. F.A.B. Virgil on

    Sydney

     

     

    If it was me and I knew I was off the next day I wouldn’t have taken fans cash… Not even your’s. That’s because I am also a fan. Good Labour man though… Just not quite like his Da.

     

     

    HH

  9. Like no other on

    justafan

     

     

    23:01 on 9 March, 2015

     

    Like no other…

     

     

    For real? Or a wind up?

     

    ————————————————

     

     

    Totally for real. Hysterical. You just couldn’t make it up.

     

     

    HH

  10. F.A.B. Virgil on

    Apologies in advance

     

     

    Behaviour tonight may seem like trolling but in my defence am just out of surgery and well wired… Need to get in before the nightshift starts. They’d give me a severe seeing to.

     

     

    HH

  11. Like no other on

    They’re obviously all a bit tired and emotional……..

     

     

     

    72barca’s Photo72barca

     

    Today, 09:48 PM

     

    That is an excellent gesture, makes a guy feel so proud. WATP.”

  12. Best quips today

     

     

    “Our budget for artificial weaves was spent on Stokesy and Griff :)”

     

     

    Can’t recall who posted this one

     

     

    “Butcher will escape he can claim he played the balls”

  13. F.A.B. Virgil on

    Like no others

     

     

    WATP

     

     

    Dodgy company. We Are The Plumbers. Not recommended

     

     

    HH

  14. Like no other on

    f.a.b. virgil

     

     

    At least they won’t need volunteer gardeners…….

     

     

     

    HH

  15. Fab. Virgil

     

    Jackie Mac did not know till after testimonial how low PL rated the Celtic captain

     

    Big cup winners. Story was told on here then confirmed by Jackie Mac in press later

  16. f.a.b. virgil

     

     

    Ach away mhan. I bought a Stewart Milne Hoose. Papier mâché so it is. Likely the gale will take it tonight.

     

     

    To all those who wondered how he couldn’t build a team and a new stadium I say cmon over to my place but don’t lean too heavily on the work surface!

     

     

    Night gorgeousnesses

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  17. jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants on

    If any of you want to lend a hand over at ibroxes, the post with the guys actual mobile number is posted on CQN Facebook.

     

     

    No laughing at the back.

  18. I think we should send “a lorry load of volunteers” to assist the Departed…should go down well…

  19. Green’s a nice colour for a stadium.

     

     

    But if you can’t polish a turd I guess you’d also struggle to paint it?

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  20. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Getting adverts all over my CQN page and its no funny. Advice please b4 I get ma Purdey oot the cupboard!! 0(

  21. Doing the tourist bit in Rome the past few days absolutely stunning.

     

    Watched the game on Sunday in the

     

    Finnegan pub on Leonina street, Rome.

     

     

    Keith the guy running the place made sure the game was on,good boozer all round. Hail Hail.

  22. sydneytim

     

     

    23:20 on 9 March, 2015

     

    Fab. Virgil

     

    Jackie Mac did not know till after testimonial how low PL rated the Celtic captain

     

    Big cup winners. Story was told on here then confirmed by Jackie Mac in press later

     

    —————-

     

    Come on, since when did you believe the Press?

     

    Jackie Mac ( who I loved as a player, btw) didn’t know but found out so quickly he could be in a car counting the money yes mugs gave him the previous day.

     

     

    Didn’t realise Wolverhampton was such a lovely place !!!!

     

     

    Sorry, Jackie Mac went down in my estimation when he left us. Not that he did so, simply the manner in which he left.

  23. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    Evening fholks

     

     

    Youngest child and youngest daughter had her Sacrament of Reconciliation(Confession to you and me) tonight and she was so proud. I must admit Monday night Church did not appeal to me, but what a lovely service and effort made by teachers and priest. Not like the old days when it was your turn to go into the Scary box!

     

     

    Asked daughter no. 2, if she had to go back next week for part 2 as I thought it was over too quick! :-)

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

     

     

    ps they are all zooming up around me (and I do not mean just in height!.) Scary stuff!

  24. Jackie McNamara.

     

     

    He is a competitor and a winner. He was like this throughout his time at Celtic. He delivered for Celtic and had a steel to his play that belied his baby face. He could mix it with the best of them without flinching.

     

     

    I still see these traits in him as he sets off on his managerial career.

     

     

    I want every manager and every player who plays against Celtic to be trying 100% to beat us, to knock us out of cups and to take 3 points off of us. That’s football, that’s sport and that’s integrity.

     

     

    We may suspect that others may not be as honest in their approach when playing against another club. That’s up to them.

     

     

    As Fergus McCann said, we know that our achievements have been on merit and not as a result of secretive societies or handshakes. I like this integrity in us and expect no favours from anywhere, even former players that some may consider ‘one of us’.

     

     

    I’d rather have integrity and honesty than tarnished achievement. No matter what they may say, we know, they know and everyone else in Scottish football knows that their ‘achievements’ in recent years are tarnished. The played by different rules and got rumbled. Even the consequences have been played out under different rules.

     

     

    Jackie will give it everything against us in the next three games. We will know that, should we win, we will have won on merit.

     

     

    There will be no EBTs in Jackie McNamara’s bank account.

     

     

    Future Celtic manager in the making.

  25. Jimmci. Story broke on CQN well before it was in the press. Came from a close friend of Jackie macs on here

  26. Clashcitybhoy on

    My tuppence worth on Jackie Mac leaving us is quite simple.

     

    There was fault on both sides – good player, good captain

  27. Gerryfaethebrig on

    celticrollercoaster supporting shay,our bhoy wonder along the way

     

     

    23:37 on 9 March, 2015

     

     

    Congratulations to you & the whole family, I bet you are a proud Bhoy tonight !