Ronny Deila believes that he’d still be manager of Celtic if Steven McLean had ordered off Josh Meekings.
Two years ago with the League Cup and SPFL in the bag the hoops faced Inverness Caley Thistle in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup at Hampden.
Virgil van Dijk’s free kick had given Celtic an early lead when Leigh Griffiths was presented with virtually an open goal.
The striker headed the ball firmly towards goal but Meekings popped up to punch the ball clear.
Amazingly McLean, additional assistant Alan Muir and assistant Frank Connor all missed the handball that 99% of the stadium viewed alongside the television audience.
Celtic lost the match 3-2 in extra-time and the chance to face Falkirk in the final. Twelve months later Deila announced his decision to step down as manager following two more Hampden defeats to Ross County and Sevco.
“That Inverness semi-final game is still something I think about,” Deila told the Daily Record. “The fact we did not get that treble in my first season is killing me, still.
“That referee’s decision in the semi-final, when the ball is punched off the line and then we get a red card and lose, it still hurts me now.
“That’s my only real regret. I don’t have regrets in football but that one is still hard because the group was so into things at that point. Would I still be there if we’d won that treble? Yes, I think so.
“That irritates me the most, losing that treble. We were very close but I suppose that’s football. It was not our day.
Celtic published a statement on their website asking for clarification on the decision but no answer was ever published. The following season McLean refereed the Scottish Cup Final between Hibs and Sevco.