I know its been quiet on here with no R's game...... I just read on the beeb website about the Scottish FA "handing" out a retrospective ban to an Inverness CT player who apparently handled the ball in the cup semi final against Celtic and it is claimed stopped a goal but was missed by the referee who neither gave a penalty or sent the player off. The wording used is that the player was "charged" by the SFA. Now personally I can not see how a player can be charged with committing a hand ball offence that was missed by the ref, it is not foul play, it is not dangerous play, quite simply the ref cocked up. Did I mention that Celtic lost the game and wrote to the SFA for an answer as to why it was missed by the ref? This to me sets new standards for barmy decisions by Football Associations....perhaps we should look for retrospective action against the Spurs lad who made a great save from Charlie a few weeks ago that the ref missed......... Would be interesting if the SFA had done the same thing if it was the other way around and it was a Celtic player who handled but got away with it.....would probably be passed off as "rub of the green"........
Will we be seeing action against linesmen who incorrectly flag players that beat the offside trap and put the ball in the net? How about a goal scored by a player who was offside and scores, but the linesman keeps his flag down. No end to this rubbish.
It is simply wrong that the SFA have done this. Celtic were wrong to even bring the subject up too. The whole thing smells of sour grapes on their part. The poor lad gets a one game ban and misses the final all because the Ref should have gone to specsavers. It sets a bad precedent.
I see FIFA's head of referees has stated that he thinks the retrospective action is wrong, although the SFA Head of Protocols has said that the rules allow for retrospective action to be taken for potential sending off offences, including preventing a goal by hand ball....... This has the potential to run and run......our learned friends will be rubbing their hands with glee......
If you ever needed to know just why the 'Old Firm' are so hated by other Scottish clubs this is a perfect example of their outrageous sense of self-entitlement. As mentioned, if this had been the other way round it would have been tough luck. I hope Cally win it and their fans have a message for Celtic afterwards...
I suppose that common sense has prevailed and the charge against the Inverness player has been dismissed and he is free to play in the cup final. The reason given was that the SFA were not entitled to bring the case as the incident was seen by the officials and according to the ref he sought the advise of the official behind the goal who thought the ball struck the players head and not the arm. Yes the officials cocked up but it's the SFA and Celtic who look like pillocks and bad losers.......
