Stuart Kettlewell has called out the double standards of the SFA as VAR went into hiding at Fir Park today.
Trailing 2-0 from early in the match Motherwell were looking for a goal to provide them with a route back into the match.
A cross ball in the 75th minute caused concern in the Ibrox defence, as Mika Biereth moved towards the ball at the back post Cyriel Dessers used both hands to pull on his opponents jersey.
The pull was obvious to see on Sky Sports, referee David Dickinson appeared to have a clear view of it with Greg Aitken on VAR having a full range of camera positions to review.
There appeared to be no delay or even a pause in plat as Dickinson got the game restarted with a free kick to the 2012 Tribute Act for an unidentified foul in the box.
Hearts and Aberdeen have recently had penalties awarded against them for shirt pulls, after conceding a late equaliser Barry Robson highlighted the bad look it gives Scottish football.
Joining the dots after Motherwell were today’s victims, Football Scotland reports Motherwell boss Kettlewell saying:
The one that was brought to my attention from our analyst is the pull on Mika Biereth’s arm. Backpost he looks favourite to get a touch on the ball. I am seeing them given as penalties constantly.
I think Rangers themselves have benefited from a number of incidents like that. But my question is are we actually checking them? We keep getting told everything is being checked.
I am not sure if that one has been specifically checked as I would defy anybody to tell me if it has been checked, we are ok with it. If that influences him from getting to the ball, I think we are all on the same page are we not?
That it has to be a penalty. From the naked eye and what I have seen live and on a replay, that looks like it has to be a penalty based on the benchmark is for giving penalties in this league.
I am not making excuses for it, it is just you would love one or two of these things to fall for you and they absolutely don’t. I watch highlights programmes every week and I see them given every single week.
? LISTEN: “I’m seeing them given as penalties constantly… Rangers themselves have benefitted from a number of incidents like that”.
? Stuart Kettlewell believes Motherwell should’ve been awarded a penalty for a pull on Mika Biereth during their 2-0 defeat to Rangers. pic.twitter.com/CUVvnJYzKU
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) December 24, 2023
Neither BBC Scotland or Sky Sports who covered today’s match mentioned the 73 match run of SPFL matches without a penalty being awarded against the Tribute Act.
Aitken was on VAR today at Fir Park, on Tuesday the Ayrshire official will be back on VAR duty for Dundee v Celtic.
? “Penalty Rangers”
Celtic chief Michael Nicholson’s cutting reply when quizzed on referees and VAR at AGMhttps://t.co/6vJYJ8p66Ihttps://t.co/6vJYJ8p66I
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) November 22, 2023
Dismissed by the media as a gripe then onto the next game where they’re awarded a penalty for the exact same thing
The shame of football and the sevco media
Motherwell (and everyone else) should refuse to play on until these incidents are checked. Either that they walk off the pitch.
Time to face up to the cheating before people give up watching this corrupt league.
Maybe we have to wait for yet another dodgy non-penalty decision to sevco
to cause a manager to go absolutely mental in the post match interview / presser?
If a manager calls out the ref / VAR as being bent as a 3 quid note, or
something similar, then the SFA will pull the manager up to Hampden
for a disciplinary hearing?
[Or not?]
A proposed censure from the SFA would at least get some media coverage,
IF only from new media.
If sevco dodge a stonewall penalty in the derby game,
it would be brilliant if BR expressesd the supporters’ frustrations at the
blatant match fixing by the Scottish Referees’ Association – and the SFA.
If our Board remains mute, then maybe it’s BR’s responsibility / duty to
call it out publicly?
His team might be playing mince, but BR would receive loads of brownie points
from the support for calling out the sevco non-penalty cheating.
Editor: It is on the Celtic board to call this out but while those that were on the board in July 2012 are still around they won’t dare say boo, too many skeletons to keep hidden.
Editor’s reply says all you need to know…Our Board is a feckin’ disgrace.
Good on Stuart Kettlewell !
He has more balls and courage in his little toenail than our Brendan does in every sinew of his fibre being…
There again Brendan might have a big grey ‘behind closed doors’ gun being held to his head !
Scottish football and it’s corruption is for the benefit of one club. Yes, the club that has a separate contract agreement with the governing body that no other member club has…..
HH