For the second time in under three years Frank Connor was involved in a controversial penalty involving Celtic in a cup semi-final.
Back in 2015 Steven McLean and Alan Muir took most of the flack as Josh Meekings punched away a net-bound Leigh Griffiths header.
Up against ten men with a penalty to go two goals up Ronny Deila could have been 90 minutes away from a treble with Falkirk waiting in the final of the Scottish Cup.
On that occasion Connor seemed to go with the flow and just nod in agreement with McLean’s decision rather than express his opinion that Meekings had handled the ball.
“The standard of refereeing in Scotland has been shocking!”@chris_sutton73 bemoans the officials as Hibs are awarded a penalty. pic.twitter.com/0Gznl0PDPL
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) October 21, 2017
Today it seemed that the assistant referee has found the confidence to do his job and felt that Dedryck Boyata had fouled Martin Boyle.
Kevin Clancy was closer to the incident but was uncertain, he looked for assistance from Connor and pointed to the penalty spot.
In 2015 Connor would have noted that McLean’s horrific performance had no detrimental impact on his career, a year later he was in charge of the Scottish Cup Final.
Who’d bet against Connor running the line at Hampden in next month’s final of the Betfred Cup?