Patrick Barclay has joined the criticism of Scottish referees after viewing Sam Cosgrove’s red card at Ibrox.
The Dundee born journalist is one of the most respected commentators in the English game with acknowledged books on Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho having been a senior football reporter at The Guardian and The Times.
As chairman of the Football Writers Association he has 138,000 followers on twitter.
Are you telling me the ABERDEEN player was sent off?
I do not believe it.
Even in Scotland… https://t.co/OQmQYy3Oe3— Patrick Barclay (@paddybarclay) December 6, 2018
Sam Cosgrove of Aberdeen sent off for getting kicked by Goldson. pic.twitter.com/XQphrjuVPX
— The Count???? (@oisin71) December 5, 2018
English football does have it’s problems with referees but with a pool of full time officials not allowed to take charge of matches involving clubs they are associated with or in their home area there are much less controversies.
Steven McLean issued Cosgrove with his red card and is no stranger to controversy having famously been in charge of the Celtic v Inverness Caley Thistle Scottish Cup semi-final in 2015.
Despite a clear hand-ball from Josh Meekings that denied Leigh Griffiths a goal McLean waved play on with Celtic losing 3-2 after extra-time.
The following season McLean was in charge of the Scottish Cup Final.
