Thread: Aidengate - SPL Referees are too Impressionable

Celtic took a well earned three points from Easter Road on Sunday amidst much controversy. No the talk wasn’t of Samaras’s first half goal, nor was it about Artur Boruc’s spectacular and world class save. Instead it was about Aiden McGeady and his “Simulation”. After this happened Craig Burley and the press thought they had died and gone to heaven as they licked their lips at the delicious irony that unfolded.

But before I get to them I would like to reserve a special mention for yesterdays referee Dougie McDonald and most officials in Scotland who are all too influenced by the big boy leagues down south and abroad. Mr Mowbray hit the nail on the head yesterday when he said this wouldn’t have even happened if it were not for the Eduardo incident mid week. Aiden McGeady would have went to ground and Dougie McDonald would have waved play on and the game would have continued. Aiden was not trying to win a penalty, free kick in a dangerous area or get a fellow professional sent off. He has anticipated a challenege when he was going at a decent pace and then paid the price for the midweek saga which also seen Celtic lose out.

There is not one doubt in my mind that the referee wouldn’t have gave this incident a second thought if it had been any other week. Which leads me to wonder how impressionable are our referees are when it comes to incidents outside the SPL. I will sight another example that went against Rangers back in 2005, now Liverpool centre back Sotirios Kyrgiakos was sent packing in a cup match against Celtic for sarcastically clapping the referee after giving a foul against him. See article below

BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Cups | Celtic 2-0 Rangers



But oh wait what happened less than a month earlier….David Beckham was sent off for the same sarcastic clapping . See Article below.

Clap-happy Beckham sees red card rescinded as Real appeal succeeds - European, Football - The Independent

This is just one bit of proof Scottish referees like to make themselves feel important by acting like the big boys, it is truly a case of if they jumped of a bridge, Dougie McDonald and co would be quick to jump in after.

Besides the actual decision itself, the sensationalism and the words used by the likes of Craig Burley and more notably Jim Traynor this morning you would think Aiden McGeady has murdered somebody. Oh and humorous quips by Rangers fans with short memories who forget Kyle Lafferty and his appalling display at the back of last season when he got a fellow professional sent off intentionally.

Anyway I've ranted long enough. We accept dubious decisions will be made throughout the season and we pick ourselves up and get on with it.

I agree totally with Mr Mowbray, and the article above.
That arrogant idiot Burley even changed his mind, as if you listen closely to his post-match interview, his fellow commentator mentions that both of them thought it was a free kick to Celtic when watched at match speed.
Only one of the five camera angles shows there was no contact; that's how close it was i.e. it was hardly blatant.
The assistant referee gave a free kick to Celtic!
To compare it in any form or fashion to Eduardo's antics is absolutely ludicrous.

I will give another example of the Scottish media bias against Celtic. Recall the idiot who ran on to the field v AC Milan. I don't , and never will condone such idiotic behaviour, but it was the goalkeeper who was guilty of 'simulation', in an effort to get Celtic kicked out of the tournament[/B]!
All credit to the AC Milan fans the next day when they said their keeper had disgraced their club.
However, on driving home from the game, Richard Gordon et al had Celtic all but kicked out of Europe, and don't forget, they must have watched the incident several times in slow motion!
As for Jim Traynor, he should be utterly ashamed to call himself a journalist. Ok, he is only doing his sensationalist job, but there are limits.

The ref at the game yesterday was totally inconsistent i.e. Chris Killen's dive.

All in all, a total over-reaction by the media. So what's new?

Come on the Hoops

Hail Hail,

Father Hugh

have watched this incident a few times now and aiden was caught the ref is a well known hun and just couldnt wait to send him off

Originally Posted by wiggy66

have watched this incident a few times now and aiden was caught the ref is a well known hun and just couldnt wait to send him off

Wooft, Aiden was never caught. Green tinted glasses need to be off. Maybe he went down for another reason but it certainly wasn't from a foul from the Hibs boy.