Celtic have this week met with the SFA to question the performance of referee’s in some of their key games this season? Are they trying to influence the referee ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm game?
I have to say that in my opinion they are trying to do just that. They face the prospect of falling ten points behind on Sunday, and then thirteen points if Rangers win their game in hand against St.Johnstone.
It seems to me that they are desperate, and they will do anything to try and close the gap, and this includes playing mind games with the referee and heaping pressure on him to make decisions which may favour them.
Celtic cannot afford to lose this game as they know there will be no way back if they do. Tony Mowbray is under pressure because of the team’s poor form this season, and the amount of money he has spent rebuilding the squad.
So with all this in mind, do you think it will affect referee Dougie McDonald’s performance? Will the pressure get to him? Or can he handle it? Ex Celtic striker Scott McDonald seems to think that it will not affect his performance. He said: ‘It’s quite convenient that this has all come out just before the game and it will certainly add pressure to the man in the middle, but Dougie McDonald has been around for a long time, so he’ll be more than ready for the game.’
The referee himself has said he will not let it get to him, Mr McDonald said: ‘I treat every match the same in terms of my preparation. You have to bear in mind the scrutiny you are under in an Old Firm game and the unique pressures of the game but you cannot be overawed by it.’
Well let’s hope he does play his normal game, but you have to admit the timing of this appeal is suspicious. Even Big John Hartson agreed with this, he said: ‘For me, Celtic have done the right thing by going to the SFA and querying the competency of referees this season. On the evidence I have seen, there have been a lot of outrageous decisions and Celtic have been the worst victims by far of a lot of honest mistakes.’
However, he added: ‘What I have difficulty coming to terms with is the actual timing of it and the purpose of the timing, It may be accidental, but I don’t think anybody would buy into that.’
Listen, I agree that Celtic have had some bad decisions this season, especially the penalty incident at Ibrox where Davie Weir brought down Shaun Maloney, but it’s swings and roundabouts. Rangers have had their own share of bad decisions this season, for me it’s just part of football and you just have to get on with it.
Davie Hay said that even Big Jock Stein said that if you are victim of a bad decision, then just deal with it by going up the pitch and score a goal. Sounds like good advise to me. Just get on with it and stop moaning!
Do you think this week’s Celtic appeal to the SFA will affect referee Dougie McDonald’s game on Sunday? Let us know by voting in our poll which you will find to the right.
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