Scotland coaches
Scotland assistant coach Peter Houston has launched a blistering attack on referee Dougie McDonald after today’s defeat from Celtic claiming ‘Dougie McDonald conspires to try to give a penalty against us’.
Despite also being on the SFA payroll that comment is certain to bring a charge of bringing the game into disrepute for the Dundee United boss.
Houston’s main criticism of the match official seems to be over the injury time booking of substitute Barry Douglas.
“I am looking for a more consistent performance from a referee who is meant to be one of the top referees,” claimed the Dundee United boss.
“Barry Douglas wins a ball against Samaras in the middle of the park. The ball goes out, the referee gives us a foul. Samaras gets up and pushes him and Barry Douglas gets booked. Where is the reasoning in that? Why are we getting booked for that?
“We’ve had a number of bookings and I have got to question that. I thought he didn’t have a particularly good game.”
Interviewed by the BBC Houston added: “You look at the game and we were holding on quite comfortably and looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
“Yes, Celtic created chances but I thought we coped well with anything they threw at us but then Dougie McDonald conspires to try to give a penalty against us.
“It’s not the first penalty that’s been given against us by Dougie. He couldn’t get his finger to the spot quick enough and then he conspires that it’s not a penalty.
“Ki Sung-Yeung went in two minutes later and went down like a sack of tatties. I’ve had players booked for that.”
Asked about the decision not to award the penalty Houston added: “I don’t know what goes through Dougie McDonald’s mind, permanently.”
Now in full swing the Scotland number two began to pour his heart out about a number of issues during the match.
He added: “It was embarrassing I thought that Celtic thought that they had won the league here today.
“Trackside the referee has been over talking to Neil Lennon and his backroom staff and when they score a goal they are 25 yards down the track!
“I’m going to start doing that if you are allowed to do it. I didn’t think you were allowed to do that.
“So I’m a wee bit frustrated as you can imagine that we lost the game but I have got to give great credit to the players. They worked hard and on another day they might have got something.”
Perhaps if Houston can remember back to Ibrox on 10 May 2008 when Dundee United lost 3-1 to Rangers in a game refereed by Mike McCurry he might have celebrated winning that match with more than a pat on the back with Craig Levein.
Houston’s anger with McDonald stretches back to March when the referee awarded two penalties against United in a 3-3 draw against Rangers in the Scottish Cup.
After that match he said: “I was disappointed to lose what I thought were two soft penalties. I might be wrong but I thought Dusan got his foot to the ball.
“And the second one there could have been a foul on Danny Swanson as we were attacking. He felt his heels were clipped.”
United defender Mihael Kovacevic added: “He fell a bit easily and I’m disappointed in Kris Boyd. Maybe if I was a striker I’d do the same but I’m a defender and don’t like people doing that.
“Sean doesn’t think it was a penalty either and he was very angry afterwards. I am sure the first one wasn’t a penalty because the ball changed direction. I spoke to Dusan and he told me the same and I think the second one was soft.
“I don’t think it’s easy for the referees either in a big stadium with a big crowd. We are a bit unlucky with the referees but maybe it’s not only us.
“I didn’t think about the fact he was the referee in the Old Firm game, I only remembered when someone told me after the match but we’re a bit sad about those two penalties.”
McDonald was put in charge of the Rangers-Dundee United cup tie just two weeks after sending off Scott Brown in the Rangers-Celtic SPL match.
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