The last time that Celtic faced Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden they were the victims of one of the greatest ‘honest mistakes’ of all time.
An honest mistake witnessed by match referee Steven McLean, additional assistant Alan Muir and traditional assistant Frank Connor on the North Stand side of Hampden.
Already leading thanks to a free-kick from Virgil van Dijk a cross into the back post was met perfectly by Leigh Griffiths- and also by the arm of Josh Meekings to prevent the ball from going into the net.
It was a clearly visible handball, three match officials had a clear view of it but none of them signalled for a penalty.
At that time awarding a penalty would have resulted in a red card for Meekings but none of the three SFA officials were prepared to award Celtic a penalty.
With Celtic fans kicking up a storm on social media the club announced that they had written to the SFA for clarification on the decision. No explanation was ever published, Celtic happily let the matter drop with McLean rewarded by being put in charge of the 2016 Scottish Cup Final.
McLean, Muir and Connor are still picking up match fees and expenses from the SFA eight years later, on Saturday McLean will be on VAR duty looking closely at issues that John Beaton might have missed.
Graeme Stewart will be one of Beaton’s assistants, in 2017 he resigned from Police Scotland after choking someone called Charles O’Donnell while on Police duty.
Stewart was fined £500 for the assault but enjoys the backing and support of the Scottish Football Association.
The three stoodgies how many total blatant fck ups this time at least three one for each ???
The SFA should be investigating the truly bewildering fact regarding Rangers’ 38 game SPL campaign without conceding ONE penalty. It’s absolutely unheard of in any league in Europe or at any level of football worldwide. Disgraceful. Shame on the SFA.