Once again Celtic were the victims of horrendous decision making by match officials as they beat St Johnstone 2-0 last night.
Throughout the match referee Greg Aitken allowed St Johnstone players to charge in recklessly to challenges with James Forrest an early victim from a dangerous foul from behind 25 yards from goal resulting in the defender being let off without a word of warning or yellow card.
Ref and linesman looking straight at this….no penalty……honest mistake…. pic.twitter.com/egUoIO6IUI
— Ayewell@Govan (@theoldgovanarm1) January 30, 2019
Greg Aitken is the ref in the rangers v Livi game, chalked off a legit goal supposedly, and remember this? pic.twitter.com/t2RwZvNLpF
— Aylwin (@aylg1987) April 15, 2015
The laws of the game apply the same from the kick off to the final whistle, if a player deliberately handles the ball in the first minute, 30th minute or the last minute the decision should be the same.
Two goals early in the second half secured the points for Celtic, another goal or two would have been welcomed but Zander Clark pulled off a couple of good saves- as did Richard Foster.
Assistant referee Michael Banks had already given a few puzzling offside decisions, in the 88th minute he excelled himself as did Aitken.
A neat back-heel from Mikael Lustig sent Forrest racing towards the bye-line behind Foster, when the winger sent in a low drilled cross the Saints defender raised an arm to prevent the ball from being delivered.
Penalty? No, a corner to Celtic.
At Pittodrie last month two outrageous penalties were awarded against Celtic by Willie Collum. Taking their lead from Scotland’s best referee Aitken and Banks seemed to feel that a 2-0 win for Celtic was enough and that the rules didn’t apply in the closing stages.
On Sunday at St Johnstone Collum will be the referee with Tory MP Douglas Ross one of his assistants.