Scott Sinclair has hit out at the honest mistake that cost him a hat-trick against Airdrie United/Clydebank.
With two goals to his name the Celtic winger reacted quickly to David Hutton blocking a shot from Oliver Burke but his joy as the ball hit the net was cut short by the sight of an offside flag.
Assistant referee Ralph Gordon was perfectly positioned along the line of the Airdrie defence but for reasons best known to himself decided to put up his flag for offside. It looked a dubious decision at the time as television pictures quickly confirmed.
“I’ve seen it back and I was miles onside,” Sinclair told the Daily Record. I was unlucky but there’s nothing I can do about it now.
“It was as clear as day to me. I couldn’t believe it because it seemed to me at the time I was at least a couple of yards onside. So it’s a bit disappointing.”
There is nothing that Sinclair can do about that decision but there is plenty for the SFA and referee chief John Fleming to do.
Gordon will be on duty at the Kilmarnock match on Wednesday night when they host Steven Gerrard’s side with every decision being watched carefully.
The world of Scottish refereeing seems to be a closely guarded secret with no sign of demotion for regular mistakes, indeed mistakes made in matches against Celtic appears to have accelerated the progress of John Beaton and Bobby Madden.
