Six years after last being trusted to take charge of a Glasgow Derby Steven McLean did his level best to remain on the rota as he managed today’s clash at Ibrox.
After opening the scoring Todd Cantwell ran into the crowd to celebrate with McLean keeping his yellow card in his pocket with the former Norwich starlet given immunity for the rest of the game as he clicked heals and ran into opponents.
John Souttar headed the home side in front before McLean made his most telling intervention.
Longer version…..that’s a stone waller https://t.co/YkOJpfwyv7 pic.twitter.com/bTHB98bzYl
— Robert Paterson? (@madbhoab) May 13, 2023
With five minutes left in the first half the ball was cut-back towards Matt O’Riley with panic in the home defence, stretching out to stop Reo Hatate Goldson conveniently fell on the ball, preventing it from reaching the Celtic midfielder.
It was a clear handball, clearer than the penalties awarded against Alexandro Bernabei and Matt O’Riley earlier in the season but after a run of 52 matches without conceding a penalty in the SPFL McLean knew the consequences of applying the Laws of the Game.
Steven Kirkland on VAR also knew what was at stake, there wasn’t even a pause to review the incident.
McLean has previous for avoiding awarding Celtic penalties for handball, in 2015 at Hampden he refused to apply the Laws of the Game when Josh Meekings handled a goal-bound header from Leigh Griffiths in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
Peter Lawwell allowed that decision to go unpunished in the interests of Scottish football, eight years on referees know the script if they want to stay on the lucrative circuit.
In ten European ties this season non-Scottish referees awarded four penalties against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
Kevin Clancy in January 2022 away to Aberdeen was the last referee to award a penalty against the Ibrox club in the SPFL, the following day Sky Sports obtained the ‘leaked’ letter of complaint about Clancy.
Wonder if Bobby Madden who has suddenly became BBC Sportsounds go to ex ref will say it’s a pen ?
He said NO!! Surprise, Surprise!!!
I was not surprised it wasn’t given,it’s beyond parody way the refs now,, as for cantwell he was doing what he wanted without any come back, bout 60mins he got a word in is ear at was it,,, calmac goes in one tackle albeit yellow is flashed,,nearly every tackle made by a hun was followed through by a push,, was like watching a junior side play the game,, that aside we wer poor tday,
Until the other clubs get together to speak out publicly about the discernable decisions referees and VAR officials are donating to one club over the rest , then we will be debating the same old gripes every single season forever ! Someone with a pair of Donegal’s has to stand up and call it out … Loud and emphatically …. Is that person out there who has had and seen enough of this damned intolerance from the establishment ?