Will the SFA hit Hearts manager Robbie Neilson with a disrepute charge?
Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie between Hearts and Celtic was marred by the typical ‘look-at-me’ type performance by Willie Collum as he carries on refereeing in the style of his mentor Hugh Dallas.
Most people outside of Tynecastle were in agreement that Morgaro Gomis was well deserving of his eighth minute red card for a crude attack on Scott Brown that could have ended the Celtic captain’s career. Neilson saw it differently, perhaps influenced by Craig Thomson’s performance the week before in the Hearts v Sevco league match.
A slip by John Guidetti that resulted in a penalty for Celtic has been examined to the nth degree with the SFA’s Compliance Officer appearing to give off the record guidance that no further action will be taken because the Swede never made any claim to Collum.
At the match Collum hesitated at the incident, appearing to have a Dougie-Dougie moment before getting the word from assistant Graham Chambers that it was a penalty.
Reacting to those incidents Neilson said: “I have watched both incidents. I’m disappointed on the outcome of both.
“I’m sure the referee will look at it again and have his own views after assessing them but it’s done now.
“We’re out of the Cup, not for the want of trying, but decisions went against us at key times.
“The penalty, is the real changer in the game. I am more annoyed at that but I’m also more annoyed that you can’t speak to them.
“If somebody makes a mistake, I would rather they just came and said: ‘Look, I did it.’ Then we could move on.”
Neilson didn’t feel that Kris Commons’ disallowed goal was worthy of comment with Collum blowing his whistle after Neil Alexander spilled the ball at the feet of the Celtic substitute.
Having stated that decisions went against his side and openly questioned why he wasn’t allowed to speak to Collum surely it’s time for the SFA to charge the Hearts boss- otherwise another referee strike could be brewing.
