Despite the pre-match concerns about Bobby Madden refereeing the Celtic v Sevco match hoops fans were still outraged late into the night about the decisions made by the referee.
A few cliches need well and truly destroyed such as ‘ a referee can’t influence the outcome’ and ‘if you are good enough the referee doesn’t matter’.
Both of them are blatant lies and come from the school of thought that you don’t debate or criticise match officials because ‘these things even themselves out over the season’.
They don’t. Has anyone ever offered proof?
Madden had a nightmare but that was hardly a surprise.
With no particular flair for the game he has always looked uncomfortable refereeing matches, making decisions that defy logic comforted in the knowledge that he’ll never have to explain his decision making.
Current ‘top referees’ are much of a muchness in Scotland, they have achieved FIFA status and enjoy a fantastic second income with amazing perks and travel with little accountability. Once you are on the FIFA list everything is assured, only illness or injury will result in removal.
As ever with these matters the SFA are the clubs. Until Celtic or anyone else starts to ask questions and get explanations history will repeat itself, yesterday it was Madden, in 2015 it was Steven McLean- with those standards in place further mistakes are assured with Madden, McLean and others of their ilk continuing to get the top matches.