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Kenny Clark labels the SFA embarrassing, ridiculous and cowardly

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Ally McCoist Celtic newsKenny Clark has launched an all out attack on the SFA labelling them embarrassing, ridiculous and cowardly.

The former Grade 1 referee acted as an unofficial mouthpiece for referees during their strike action last year and squarely laid the blame for that at the door of Celtic.

Tuesday’s decision not to suspend Madjid Bougherra or El Hadji-Diouf has shocked the refereeing community with the SFA washing their hands of supporting referees.

Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist was delighted to win his appeal against his two match touchline ban with Clark amazed by the actions of the SFA.

He told The Sun: “The decision by the SFA’s disciplinary committee to only fine the Rangers players a pittance in their terms was laughable, embarrassing, ridiculous and cowardly.

“My day job is a defence lawyer but had I come out of court with the sort of result Madjid Bougherra and El Hadji Diouf got on Tuesday I think I’d have retired- it wouldn’t get any better than that.

“It was simply breathtaking and dreadful for all levels of the game. Open season has also been declared for any player being ordered off to grab the ref’s arm or hand. Is that really the sort of unedifying spectacle the SFA are inviting us to have?

“I’ve tried to to make sense of it all but I just can’t. It’s incomprehensible. No wonder the two players couldn’t keep the smiles off their faces walking out of Hampden.

“The SFA said they were both not guilty of serious misconduct. Well how bad does it need to get before they do something that will actually impact on players?”

During Rangers 1-0 defeat to Celtic in the Scottish Cup Bougherra was twice seen to man handle referee Calum Murray.

Clarke believes that Bougherra’s actions were the worst of the charges to come from the match with the SFA’s unwillingness to punish the defender setting a dangerous precedent.

“I can’t believe a player from one of the clubs in the lower division would have been dealt with in this manner,” Clark claimed.

“The Bougherra situation concerns me more than Diouf’s because laying hands on a referee like he did to Calum Murray is totally unacceptable, not part of our game.

“According to the SFA, putting your hands on the ref isn’t a banning offence any more! That’s the precedent being set. So how can any manager at any level be expected to warn to his players not to touch the ref now?

“As for Diouf, when you’re shown a red card you’re supposed to leave the field. Not go on a detour to your own fans and throw your shirt in amongst them.

“He failed to leave the pitch having been ordered to do so by the ref. In doing that he provoked what was already a very heated situation.

“He’s hardly shown any signs of remorse since. Instead he’s just had another go at Calum Murray.”

Clark added: “I also find it odd that Ally McCoist won his appeal against being banned for his full-time spat with Neil Lennon.

“There was no confrontation until McCoist said what he did to Neil Lennon. It would be foolhardy in the extreme to think McCoist didn’t say anything inflammatory.

“Even when Lennon reacted, McCoist didn’t try to calm him down. So I find it strange the SFA didn’t feel there was any justification for action, particularly when he’d been involved in an earlier situation in the match where Walter Smith had to pull him back.

“It doesn’t look smart that they gave Lennon a four-game ban and the other guy walks away with his name cleared.”

Hinting at the possibility of further strike action by refs Clark added: “I wonder if the disciplinary committee – and I realise Regan doesn’t sit on it – have forgotten there’s already been a situation where refs withdrew their services earlier this season because of the level of abuse being directed at them.

“What is the committee trying to do? Provoke that situation again?

“It will certainly reinforce a view that a number of refs have had in the past that they weren’t getting enough backing or protection. This doesn’t smack of a new regime that is going to come down firmly on people who make life difficult for officials.

“The SFA have certainly provided Celtic with more ammunition to raise question marks about the approach and even-handedness of the disciplinary committee.

“What needs to be done now?

“Well I’ve said numerous times that the SFA have to take strong action when players or managers misbehave but yet again they’ve failed to do so.

“I really do think they’re leaving themselves open to criticism and further police intervention in the future.”

Paul McBride- the SFA look beyond stupid

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0 comments

  • Mike Bhoyle says:

    If the SFA take Paul McBride to court…..then Paul should appoint Kenny Clark as his defence lawyer…..( that would give Paul the day off…!!)……
    What Mr.Clark said was accurate and to the point and sums up perfectly the situation.
    All he needs to do now is have the full courage of his convictions ….and call another strike by the referees…no one could blame them for this kind of action….and we might get a foreign ref. for the game at I****…which would be a great help.

    • rfc+sfa=cheats says:

      rangers fans and walter myth are continuously stating that refs are just incompetent and celtic are paranoid, walter myth in particular has stated for years that the majority of refs in scotland are just useless, next time he states the refs are just incompetent in scotland (which is after every game rangers drop points in) he should be asked if he would agree that foreign refs may be a good idea as it would also stop accusations of bias and rangers titles would no longer be adjudged to be “tainted”. i personally dont think he would be too keen on the idea! why is that? why would he not even consider such an idea if, as he so strongly believes, scottish referees are so incompetent?

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