The phrase ‘BBC Scotland understands’ needs to be treated very carefully as the state broadcaster doesn’t have a particularly special record when it comes to ‘understanding’ football matters.
With their license fee funded status the BBC can’t really be seen to be having a shot in the dark at stories heard on the grapevine which is where they can make use of the ‘understands’ card.
Tonight BBC Scotland understands that Celtic have contacted the SFA to raise concerns about the standards of refereeing this season- an issue that most Celtic supporters will have commented on to some extent.
Falling for the bait is the illustrious George Peat, the man who saw Airdrieonians into oblivion before finding a liferaft at Stenhousemuir in order to retain his SFA blazer.
Taking the ‘story’ to Pleat the BBC knew that they were on a winner and off we go with the story that will overshadow everything else in the run up to Sunday’s Rangers-Celtic game.
Pleat’s diplomatic skills are as refined as the ousted John McBeth whose scatter gun quotes about leading FIFA figures led to him being booted out of the SFA and off some top FIFA committees.
Unable to resist the priceless ‘no comment’ reply Pleat has waded in feet first and kicked off a classic rammy leading into Sunday’s match.
“We find it disappointing and somewhat bizarre that, in the build-up to an Old Firm derby, an unnamed Celtic ‘source’ would seek to exert additional pressure on match officials by issuing ill-timed and fundamentally inaccurate comments,” blabbed the error-prone SFA President.
“The validity of these comments is questionable in any case, since the ‘source’ is not courageous enough to put his name to them.
“In actual fact, discussions between the Scottish FA and Celtic have taken place, but the contents of these discussions will remain private, as was agreed with the club.
“I am sure the Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, will be concerned by the fact that someone has elected to speak on behalf of his club, seemingly without consent, and therefore undermined his authority.”
I am equally sure that Celtic will be less than thrilled that Pleat has commented on matters which ‘the contents of these discussions will remain private’ as Pleat himself stated to the BBC.
Well they certainly aren’t private any more are they George?
While attention will now be drawn again to the sub-standard refereeing performances of Craig Thompson and Steve Conroy in this season’s Celtic-Rangers games that situation was pre-empted by Hugh Dallas last week when he admitted to disappointing decisions from his whistlers.
Pleat’s own position must surely be scrutinised after this ill-advised, or carefully planned, comment but looking through the ranks of the SFA office bearers there are no obvious candidates ready to step in and offer sensible guidance and leadership.
BBC story link
BBC story link
The writer of this is quite clearly delusional if he thinks that the story has not been leaked by Celtic with Lawwell the most likely source. This is another example of a club with no dignity , that knows no shame and in their own twisted mind has never been fairly beaten by the better team.