Michael assures me- Celtic fans chief on latest refereeing issue as he calls out Alan Muir
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain - April 16, 2023 Celtic non-executive Chairman Peter Lawwell in the stands before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Joe O’Rourke has delivered another scathing attack on Scottish refereeing following Celtic’s 3-0 win away to Livingston.
The victory was welcome but the major talking point was the joint decision taken by Don Robertson and Alan Muir not to award Celtic a penalty in the 37th minute.
With the match goal-less Alistair Johnston passed to Kyogo Furuhashi close to the penalty spot.
As the striker turned onto the ball he was wiped out by Mikey Devlin in full view of referee Robertson. As supporters and players waited for the ball to go out it seemed that a penalty was certain, at the very least Robertson would get a second look on the pitchside monitor.
Neither happened, Celtic were denied a penalty and the chance to get in front in a vital match.
? Should Celtic have had a penalty against Livingston for this challenge on Kyogo? VAR didn’t think so.
Watch the match live on @SkyFootball ? pic.twitter.com/iMWnx7eZhv
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 31, 2024
In his Supporters Association blog O’Rourke doesn’t hold back:
Yesterday was a very important victory for the Famous Glasgow Celtic, it was a comfortable win, but once again another “Serial Cheat” Alan Muir played his part, ask 100 football supporters with an IQ of more than 2 if the tackle on Kyogo was a penalty, and you will get 100% say it was a stonewaller, but not Muir, and his fellow Dunderheid Kris Boyd, just exactly how does this guy get to commentate on any football by Sky?, as a pundit his an embarrassment.
I said the other day that outgoing Head of Refereeing now has a free hit at us from now to the end of the season, how can the SFA punish him for any blatant bias towards his favourite team? He should have been made to resign immediately. The thing that makes me laugh is, they love Newco so much that they will “Blatantly Cheat” on live television, but they did nothing to stop the same club Dying in 2012, their love only goes so far. I spoke to Michael Nicholson on Friday about my concerns, Michael assures me they are watching proceedings carefully.
Tomorrow morning the SFA will announce the officials for Sunday’s Glasgow Derby at Ibrox. It looks like John Beaton will referee it with Nick Walsh the most realistic alternative. Greg Aitken is likely to be on VAR after Andrew Dallas spotted Saturday’s penalty at home to Hibs.