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 Paton should have his red card rescinded.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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CRC
Sounds like you had a great time. God bless!! Ps remember you canny tell them wee fibs anymore. H H
I’m in Gloucestershire tonight, preparing for Cheltenham tomorrow. Any tips for the last two races will be received gratefully.
Oh and Jackie Mac – I would welcome him back to Paradise in a heartbeat.
Night all Night wee Oscar my hero. God bless x x
SYDNEYTIM
But Jackie didn’t take the club’s money (which I would have been fine with), he bagged the fan’s cash… then dashed
HH
P D
Check out Paddy Power He’s giving a cash back if certain horses win certain races you get a cash back. Good Luck!!!
Gerryfraethebrig-cheers and looking forward to catching up with you next week at your stag do :-)
Jude2005-just big fibs left then :-)
HH
CRC
SYDNEYTIM
The £1m from us should have compo,d for a weaker contract. If I took £1m from the fans I’d sign for less cause I owed them. But that’s me… A fan…
HH
celticrollercoaster supporting shay,our bhoy wonder along the way
23:53 on 9 March, 2015
Gerryfraethebrig-cheers and looking forward to catching up with you next week at your stag do :-)
There is no stag doo, just a few family & friends enjoying a tune or two from Patricia Ferns
Let that girl sing……
Just watched new advert for new balance .
Anybody else seen it.
I’m in englandshire it’s on film 4 Virgin t.v.
Keep thinking They sponsor my team.
Gonna get a pair of they’re trainers.
If you want to picture Craig Thompson watching the example of exemplary refereeing at Old Trafford tonight, just imagine a goat staring at a new fence.
phyllis dietrichson
23:48 on 9 March, 2015
I love Cheltenham but picking winners isn’t my game, another poster gave a shout out for Gallant Oscar in the 2.40 (I think) the morra, as I posted I love my horses and I will be betting that horse for the wee man, hope his family don’t mind me mentioning this but when the wee fella was going through his hard times I remember on his birthday he was going for chemo, it hit me hard as I then realised my daughter was born on the same day 10th September 2008 sometimes reading about others brings it all home…. I really hope I haven’t offended any of the family but it has always been in my head when I read it was the wee Bhoys birthday, I have told my daughter she shares a birthday with a wee fighter from over the water !
The reason why the SFA is still vital and still needs sorting was clearly outlined by Murray P’s statements about getting back onto Committees etc. etc. for the ‘good’ of Scottish football.
The old masonic control weapon that favours one club…
Over to PL and CFC to block…
I won’t hold my breath.
HH
Sandman
Which one is Thompson, the goat or the fence?
HH
The 1m from fans was agreement on previous contract as he was paid less than other members of the team
Not for the next contract
Where cash comes from testimonials or salaries. It’s all the fans money
Sydneytim
You’ve seen the contract?
HH
I have no problem with Jackie McNamara leaving Celtic with his testimonial money safely cashed away. He earned that testimonial by giving 10 years of service to Celtic, just as Henrik earned his and we gave him that money willingly even though he was not planning to stay.
Jackie was under no obligation to stay because he had had a testimonial. Jackie was under no obligation to accept the contract terms offered. He was free to accept a better offer from Wolves which he did.
However, his subsequent form from 2005 to 2100 playing with Wolves, Aberdeen, Falkirk and Thistle showed that he was not missed as a player during that spell. In managing less than 15 games per season in the 2 years with Wolves and was not getting rave reviews.
It looks like each side did the other a favour in letting Jackie go. He got more money than he would have got if he stayed. We got to avoid the Paul Lambert situation of paying a former hero big bucks through their twilight years.
Sydneytim
The Club’s fan money is recycled and entrusted…. not the same
HH
SFTB
No argument with any of that. But Celtic made offers and would have signed him if he agreed. We did not release him unoffered.
My only point is that as a fan I would not have been comfortable bagging that cash and then offski.
That neither makes him a fan or not a fan just a different operator.
HH
Fab virgil. That is correct the fans money is now recycled through the system to peter Lawell’s pension fund
I suppose testimonials mean money goes direct to players and not to the crooks pension fund
Disney matter about the In’s and out’s of the McNamara contract at Celtic.
Why would what he said yesterday be judged in that context?
He was either right or wrong…I think he was wrong.
Hail Hail.
Right
Nurse demands byebyes so it’s goodnight from me…
HH
Fred c Dobbs
I have no problem with what he said yesterday. He defended his player and club. I prefer he gives them 100% and tries his hardest to beat us every time. That was the easiest one of the games to win and he didn’t achieve that. His next 3 spins have lower odds so can he up his game or has he given his all?
He was factually wrong though.
HH
sydneytim
00:29 on 10 March, 2015
I know I shouldn’t ask….but who would you play in Peter Lawell’s position ???
Dave King ?
Dave Murray ?
Charlie Green ?
Craigy Whyte ?
Slag big Peter off till your wee heart is content but why not come up with an alternative, I am not saying Mr Lawell is faultless, he should back up the fans/GB more openly but give the blog another option, in my happy clapping mode he isn’t perfect but Peter Lawell does more good for us than bad, again I will reiterate he isn’t “perfect Peter” but there is worse out there, I am going to my kip but would love to wake up tomorrow and you give me a name to replace and do a better job than our Peter !
Take care, Hail Hail & good morning !
Phyllis have a great cheltenham , tipster competition is on end of last thread..
Last 2 races ? Easy peasy.. Very Wood and Thomas Crapper
F.A.B. Virgil,
Exactly…he means nowt to me.
I feel a treble coming on :O).
Hail Hail.
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. Footballers in all positions 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 team back to its best. Give me a call on 07********** . Tradesmen in strikers, wingers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers 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.”
fixed it up for them
mike in toronto
00:49 on 10 March, 2015
Why don’t they just have a sponsored walk ? They “walk” enough so may ax we’ll get some pennies their long walks……..
Gerryfaethebrig
Not fair giving the names of 4 crooks
There are many fine CEOs out there without mentioning those crooks
Peter lawell only looks after his pension plan
To have money sitting in the bank at AGM while our managers are crying out for cash for strikers is sackable Cash there to ensure his bonus is max
Gerryfae
It sounds like if you show up at their next game with a pair of boots and/or an extra jumper for the nets, you could probably get a game for Sevco!
Kano , Pablo , Celticlover , StJohnDoyle – CQN in heaven must be mental.
Alphabetical order is it. Consider yourself lucky, I could be sat next to the arsehole…….and Alfred nooks.
mike in toronto
01:00 on 10 March, 2015
I would have dived more than that Dundee Utd boy yday, I actually used to revel in conning defenders into making stupid challenges, Stokesy didn’t touch him but should have been a bit wiser, we all live and learn, it was only Saturday morning fitba I played but it was hard going at times, Greenfield in Shettleston, red ash in Mountblow just ask Delaney, or even black ash up in Springburn, it wasn’t an easy shift that Saturday morning fitba
a ceiler gonof rust
01:00 on 10 March, 2015
I tried to email you earlier, Lennybhoy seems to think you r taking one of my tickets for Friday, I thought you said to me last weekend you were staying in Edinburgh ? You had asked where we were meeting and I had said in Coatbridge, do you want a ticket or not ?
ACGR
Am in
Gerryfaethebrig, I told you when we spoke I was taking the ticket and would pay you on the night?
I thought you posted last weekend you were staying in Edinburgh, ACGR the ticket is yours, lucky for you I only have 19 pals, there is no way I would have got rid of 20 tickets ! Hope you are not too fussy where you are sitting !
Page 13 – GFTB & ACGR
Stuff your podiums !
gerryfae
where was the black ash in springburn ?
perthshire juniors used to have it (possil)
glenconner used to have it (garngad)
Cheers