Once again the top level of Scottish football was ruined by refereeing decisions that influenced the outcome of matches.
Fresh from the shambles of cornergate at Inverness and the chaos of the League Cup quarter-finals Iain Brines and John Beaton took centre stage in ruining the weekend for Aberdeen and Partick Thistle supporters as the fruits of the Hugh Dallas regime undermine Scottish football.
While Ross County got away with plenty of industrial challenges against Celtic Brines and Beaton were making the most elementary of mistakes denying teams penalties and the opportunity to play against ten men. As a result of their decisions both Aberdeen and Partick Thistle both lost.
At Pittodrie Aberdeen were hoping to stay in touch with Celtic by beating Hearts before their next fixture, at Parkhead, but after going 1-0 up found themselves on the wrong end of some Brines logic as Dylan McGowan blocked a netbound Michael Hector shot with his arm.
Aberdeen later missed a penalty and had Barry Robson sent off for two red cards but boss Derek McInnes was clear in his feelings about bungling Brines influence on the game.
“There were two major incidents that had an impact on the result,” the Dons boss stated.
“Obviously, Niall missing the penalty was a chance to go 2-0 up. It was total domination from us at that point but before that, Hearts should have been reduced to 10 men and we should have had a penalty when Dylan handled on the line.
“It’s a clear handball. The ref and officials should get it right. It’s too big a decision not to. And it was a pivotal moment.”
At Firhill Alan Archibald was left frustrated by Beaton’s failure to award a penalty when Jim Goodwin used his arm to block a shot from Kallum Higginbotham with the game poised at 1-0 to St Mirren.
“The penalty decision was the turning point,” Archibald admitted. “You could tell by the roar of the crowd it was a penalty.
“Goodwin has moved his arm to the side and blocked the ball. If that is not a penalty I don’t know what is.
“The fourth official told me he had not moved his arm but he we will be embarrassed if that is what he thought when he sees it again.
“He moved his arm to the side but we do not get the decisions that changes games.
“It could have been 1-1 and then we have got the momentum to go and get the win.”
Three years ago Scottish referees went on strike for reasons unexplained with the usual suspects and mouthpieces blaming Neil Lennon.
Should we not just accept the fact that the officials are incompetent. Managers and fans have been saying for years that something’s got to change but the same mistakes are made and the same people are in charge.
So guess what happens? Nothing changes
They never make any mistakes- according to them or the Scottish ex-referees that back them.
Maybe they should start by telling the truth. Or am I kidding myself on if I expect that will ever happen?
Quite clearly it’s not just Scottish officials that are incompetent, plenty of evidence every week from England about poor decisions being made. In Germany they awarded a goal that hit the side net and went through….I’m quite certain it happens all over the world.
World Cups have been won / lost on poor decisions, officials make mistakes some really bad ones just as Managers / Players similarly make some incredibly bad decisions, bad passes, unbelievable misses, goalkeeping howlers…..that’s football unless everyone is at it 🙂
The Scottish ref’s ARE ‘at it’! and have been for decades.
yes agree that the refs have been at since i started watching celtic 61 yrs ago.. its a secret society ala masons altho you get that wee tadger collum bending over backwards to keep his job.. they will never change.. the quicker we get out of this country and play footbal elsewhere the better.. what will be done about the 2 arseholes who ruined the games at the weeken sweet f a
I think we’re all agreed that anyone can make an “honest mistake” but the consistency in which scottish officials make mistakes can only lead to one conclusion, they’re totally incompitent beyond all doubt.
hail hail
In Europe, Holland, Germany and Belgium all share referees, It’s a wonder that such an arrangement doesnt exists in the UK considering how British we all are.
Except of course who thefk would willfully employ such a pitifull shower of inept ars@wholes as Scottish refs?
Answers on a postcard……….yadayada.
HH