News that Jon Flanagan will serve a two match suspension for elbowing Scott Brown during the Glasgow derby comes as no surprise.
With the knowledge that the Compliance Officer can take retrospective action referees cop out of the big decisions by missing incidents or award a yellow when it should be red.
As Derek Crothers explains on Twitter, FIFA officials are immune from punishment with next week’s Scottish Cup Final virtually a reward for those match referees that have missed critical decisions in Celtic games this season.
Kevin Clancy failed to red card Flanagan, back in November he had a stern word with Dolly Menga after a head-butt on Ryan Christie, afterwards the Livingston striker was given a two match suspension by the SFA.
Joining Clancy as an additional assistant at Hampden is Bobby Madden, another serial offender.
In September Scott McKenna committed a crunching waist high attack on Odsonne Edouard that was missed by Madden, afterwards the SFA handed Madden a two match suspension.
During the March Glasgow derby Ryan Kent decked Scott Brown with a punch that was missed by Madden and the other match officials. The SFA handed out a two match retrospective suspension.
Madden was also the referee at Pittodrie in February that missed Allan McGregor’s attack on Lewis Ferguson. Again, the SFA handed out a retrospective two match suspension, soon afterwards McGregor retired from international football.
3/4 careers which adds a prestegiousness to the occasion for the officials. In Scotland well if you have a FIFA badge you’re more than likely going to feature in a final more than once in your career regardless of performances. The appointment system of the @ScottishFA made
— Derek Crothers (@deaks1ey) May 14, 2019
Clancy and Madden will be additional assistants at Hampden for the Scottish Cup Final where Willie Collum will be in charge.
When Celtic and Hearts met in the semi-final of the Betfred Cup at Murrayfield Collum had a stern word with Steve MacLean after he grabbed Eboue Kouassi’s genitals, MacLean had already been booked. Afterwards the SFA handed the Hearts striker a two match retrospective ban.
One ref who won’t be at Hampden is Craig Thomson, he will however be in charge of Sunday’s SPFL match between the cup finalists.
In February Thomson yellow carded Darnell Johnson of Hibs for leaping into a foul on Emilio Izaguirre, afterwards the SFA handed out a two match ban to Johnson.
Highly rated by managers, not by fans.https://t.co/amAqkiisYr
— Joe McHugh (@videocelts) May 15, 2019
