Christophe Berra has branded Andrew Dallas as pathetic after the Lanarkshire based referee awarded St Johnstone a bizarre penalty against Hearts.
On Sunday Craig Levein’s side were on the wrong end of several decisions from Bobby Madden in their 2-1 defeat from the Ibrox tribute act with that theme continuing on Wednesday at Perth.
Hearts were leading 2-1 when Dallas struck- awarding the home side a penalty for the softest of contact in the penalty box between Peter Haning and Liam Gordon.
Dallas, son of leading UEFA decision maker Hugh, had a nightmare performance in the Betfred Cup Final between Aberdeen and Celtic three days earlier and continued that into his midweek pay day.
Looking at Wednesday’s penalty decision Berra told The Sun: “It’s pathetic, eh? It is, I spoke to the ref and he said, ‘It’s clear as day’.
“I’ve seen it. He just falls down and the ball is going away from goal. The ref is 30 yards away. You need to be 100 per cent sure it’s a penalty and I don’t think it was.
“Are you not allowed body contact in the box, seriously? You just fall down and it’s a penalty?
“I need to watch what I say, but I also have a right to say whether I think it was a penalty or not.
“There is nothing wrong with that. I am not criticising the guy, but it’s not a penalty.
“They will get decisions wrong, but when it’s clear as day and not even contentious?
“It’s not a non- contact sport. There are limits to that, but that’s not a penalty
“Peter said he hardly touched him. He might have had his shirt a little bit but when you see it, the guy falls one way and the ball goes out the box.”
Dallas will continue his lucrative week at Livingston tomorrow where St Mirren are the visitors.
During November Dallas didn’t referee a single SPFL Premiership match, his previous appointment being the 0-0 derby draw between Hearts and Hibs on October 31.