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Banned boss Brian Rice joins in with open season on Leigh Griffiths

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You would think that Brian Rice has more important matters to focus on.

Perhaps Hamilton Accies fans would be interested in his views on the lack of discipline of Jamie Hamilton or the collapse of their side in the last 12 minutes against Celtic.

Maybe Wednesday’s match against St Mirren, which Rice will watch from the stand as he sits out the second match of a five game ban, would be occupying the mind of the Accies boss.

Maybe he could explain the impact on his club of not having the influence of their manager at the touchline.

In Scotland they do things a bit differently. It’s all about Celtic and for now the focus is on Leigh Griffiths.

Rice to BBC Scotland:

I don’t think there is any debate it was a red card for Leigh Griffiths. There is no debate. But my opinion doesn’t matter and the only person whose opinion matters is the referee and he called it the way he has seen it so we move on.

He may look at it and say he made a mistake or he may look at it and say he got that right but in my humble opinion I don’t think there is any debate.

A big decision by the referee changed the game. My boys fought heroically. At 1-0 everything we worked on was good, I felt OK and I felt it was very harsh how it ended up. The biggest turning point is definitely the refereeing decision. One decision led into another but it is only my opinion.

Before the new year the striker had virtually been written off. Three goals in 2019 wasn’t going to help fire Celtic to their ninth title, the signing of Patryk Klimala virtually confirmed the demise of Griffiths.

Pundits had a field day as they speculated over a loan spell back at Hibs with Celtic saddled with the remainder of his long term contract. A drain on club finances like Eros Grezda, Eduardo Herrera and Jordan Rossiter.

Griffiths has defied the critics, scored in three matches since the winter break, started five games and struck up an impressive partnership with Odsonne Edouard. Griffiths is a threat.

Yesterday at Hamilton he was involved in a scuffle with Sam Woods, the grounded Hamilton player rolled towards Griffiths and tried to grab him around the legs. The striker was trying to get on with play and broke free to be confronted by Alex Gogic.

That will do for those fearing another Celtic title party in May. Led by Ally McCoist he was soon joined by Steven Thompson and James McFadden.

Picking up the baton this afternoon was Rice who was found guilty by the SFA of betting on hundreds of football matches last week.

Yesterday was the first match of his five game suspension, ducking out of media duties with BT Sport and Radio Scotland.

If Accies lose against St Mirren on Wednesday his side will be six points adrift of the Paisley club who will have their manager sitting in the dugout.

Unless the SFA decide to undermine the action taken by referee Nick Walsh, Griffiths will be available for Celtic’s match at Motherwell on Wednesday with Neil Lennon’s side looking to extend their 100% record in 2020.

If Rice doesn’t get his team sorted out soon it could be a long wait for Griffith’s next SPFL appearance on the plastic surface of Hamilton Accies.

Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme tonight is expected to devote time to Stampgate, similar to their recent programmes on Tapegate.

CLICK HERE for BBC Scotland coverage of Tapegate.

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