Craig Thomson has hit back at Ivan Sproule but admitted that he was wrong to award Aberdeen a penalty against Hibs on Saturday.
Sproule made a number of comments about Thomson’s display describing it as shocking and one of the poorest refereeing performances that he’d seen in a long time.
Referees rarely ever speak out about their own performances but stung by Sproul’s criticism Thomson decided to use The Sun to defend his performance.
“Sproule’s comments were frustrating, Thomson claimed. “I was low last weekend because I made a mistake, but it was almost a double kick at me.
“It was a cheap shot. I understand a player was penalised for something he didn’t think he did.
“It is frustrating because you are not judged on one game I hope.
“I don’t think players are judged on one decision they make in a match, and I don’t think we should be judged on one decision either.
“There are some silly comments come out like: ‘This referee should be demoted’.
“It’s quite frustrating as a ref because you work so hard to get to that level and you devote the time to it and you don’t shut the book on it, you try to learn from mistakes.”
Despite his public criticism of Thomson Sproul has yet to be called on by the SFA to explain his comments.
Hibs boss Pat Fenlon was upset that Thomson wouldn’t speak to him after the game at Aberdeen with the ref suggesting that he’d be happy to speak out about decisions rather than follow the SFA’s vow of silence.
“You want to be able to come out and speak and say why you made a decision,” Thomson claimed.
“I got it wrong at Aberdeen, but I’m not helped by the player (Pawlett’s dive for the penalty), it has now become almost like an art for some of the players.
“We don’t have a voice to come back sometimes. I understand the players can criticise us, but we can’t come back to reply to them.”
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“You work so hard to get to that level”. What level would that be? School or Local park?
Thomson makes one of those peskie honest mistakes against the team in green shocker then realises its not Celtic.
If Craig Thomson really wants any credibility within the Scottish game he’ll have start cheating the shame as well.
Scotland must have the worst officials ever in world football or are they just biased against Celtic.
I fully expect Wullie Collums religion and place of work to be mentioned more the once by the Mankie Scottish media in the run-up to the visit of the Shame just to keep the pressure on him.