SFA Scandal No 1 Derek Cornelius red card attack on Johnny Kenny

Celtic were on the receiving end of some horrific decisions from SFA officials in the semi-final of the League Cup at Hampden.

Under normal circumstances the hoops should have been two or three up and playing against nine men by half time.

The score was 1-0 with Celtic playing against 10 men. That was down to the match officials, three men that wouldn’t be involved in any other European country.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Match referee Nick Walsh will report for duty at Boclair Academy in Bearsden today. The partner school of the Ibrox Tribute Act, where the stars of tomorrow go for their educational needs. After starting out as a PE teacher Walsh is now Depute Head Teacher.

VAR Official Steven McLean was the match referee at the 2015 Celtic v Inverness Caley Thistle Scottish Cup semi-final. Even by Scottish standards the Josh Meekings decision was scandalous. His younger brother Brian played for Rangers and the for Northern Ireland u-21s even though he was ineligible to do so. Born in Scotland to Scottish parents and grand-parents.

VAR Assistant Andrew Dallas owes his entire career to his Dad, Hugh. In 2010 Hugh was sacked by the SFA for sharing his hatred of the Pope with SFA colleagues. When a sore leg ended Andrew’s career on the pitch the SFA created two full-time VAR jobs. Greg Aitken got the other.

Nick Walsh had already stamped his authority on the match with tell tale fouls in the opening 20 minutes. Every physical challenge resulted in Ibrox players falling to the ground, Walsh obliged with free-kicks to break Celtic’s momentum.

BRUTALITY

In the 24th minute Derek Cornelius stamped his authority on Johnny Kenny’s ankle.

It was cold and calculating. With Kelechi Iheanacho out injured Kenny was Celtic’s first choice striker. After the Irishman Celtic had to call on Callum Osmand, a striker with 15 MINUTES experience of senior football.

Walsh watched Cornelius trying to end Kenny’s game. He produced a yellow card. In the VAR studio McLean and Dallas watched the assault from a variety of angles. They agreed with their colleague Walsh.

GAME MANAGEMENT

The first half refereeing was a throwback to Craig Thompson’s game management of the 2015 League Cup semi-final.

Leigh Griffiths and Kris Commons scored in the first half, Thomson went into overdrive with some ‘bizarre’ decisions. Maybe not so bizarre.

Celtic’s momentum was constantly stopped.

A minute after being scythed down by Cornelius, Kenny headed Celtic into the lead from a corner.

Walsh, Dallas and McLean couldn’t find anything wrong with his header.

None of those officials will be involved in the 18 Champions League matches in the coming weeks.