Those Who Stare At Goats Season Review So Far...Food For The Paranoia

Taken from the Real Radio Phone site but I'm sure it was doing the rounds on Celtic Cybertimdom over the last couple of days.

For the propose of reference only I have decided to post it.

After last night’s controversial decision to rule out a perfectly good Motherwell goal for offside, Real Football Phone-In listener Keith sent us an email pointing out that this isn’t the first time that Rangers have benefited from an official’s decision this season.

What do you think? Get in touch below.

Message from Keith

Decisions that have went against Celtic have cost Celtic 9 points this season. Rangers have gained 6 points from dodgy decisions and have stayed in the Scottish Cup due to a dodgy decision. A potential 15 point swing based on poor refereeing decisions.

3 opposing SPL managers make admission to the poor decisions against Celtic and a ref admits to error.

8 stonewall penalties denied for Celtic and 4 valid goals chopped off.

Here are just some examples and quotes from media.

10 February 2010 - Motherwell 1 Rangers 1

Motherwell denied a goal which was 2 yards onside that would have put them 2-0 up. Linesman flagged incorrectly for offside.

Craig Brown was livid after seeing TV evidence showing goal was well onside, TV pundits Hendry and Butcher both agree goal should have stood. Ray Stubbs on ESPN said that point could make all the difference at end of season.

ONE point gained for Rangers

16 January 2010 - Celtic v Falkirk 3 major decisions go against Celtic

    
1. Hand ball by Falkirk defender - no penalty
    
2. Fortune pulled down in box - no penalty
    
3. Arthur handles ball 17 yards from goal 1 yard inside his box and a free kick is given to Falkirk 20 yards from goal. This could have given Falkirk the winning goal

Referee - Alan Muir

Mail on Sunday - 'Falkirk manager Eddie May said: "Overall, I thought it was a fair result. But I think they should have had a penalty."

Daily Mail - 'Alan Muir denied the Parkhead club a late penalty claim - when Brian McLean tangled with Fortune - in the 1-1 draw with Falkirk on Saturday. Hinkel was also unhappy about Celtic keeper Artur Boruc being penalised for apparently stepping out of his area late on. "It's not really my thing to say something about referees but, once again, we had some very strange decisions," said Hinkel. Not even just the penalty - look at the situation when Artur had a free-kick given against him.

TWO points dropped. Opposing manager admits Celtic should have had penalty.

10 January 2010 - Hamilton v Rangers

3-2 down and a very very doubtful penalty given to Rangers, Hamilton player lying on ground while trying to move his hand away hand ball penalty given.

Referee – Charlie Richmond

Scotsman - "They needed a touch of good fortune to equalise when referee Charlie Richmond rather harshly penalised Hamilton debutant Stuart Elliott for handball, awarding the spot-kick from which Kenny Miller converted."

A gift given to Rangers by ref to keep them in the Cup. It’s okay saying Richmond denied Miller a penalty in the replay but if it was not for the ludicrous decision in first game there would have been no replay.

3 January 2010 - Celtic v Rangers

2 shocking decisions cost Celtic the 3 points (regardless of the poor finishing) Fortune scores a goal - chopped off incorrectly.

Lafferty assaults Hinkel - a red card offence but only yellow given.

Referee - Steve Conroy

Scotsman - "Following the controversial decision by Conroy to disallow what looked like a perfectly good Fortune goal after 19 minutes. Moments later, Rangers striker Kyle Lafferty was perhaps fortunate only to be booked for a late challenge on Celtic right-back Andreas Hinkel."

TWO points dropped. ONE point gained for Rangers. 2 derbies in a row that multiple decisions go against Celtic.

12 December 2009 - Motherwell v Celtic

Celtic denied TWO stonewall penalties.

Samaras chopped in box in 1st half - No penalty.

Hand ball by Motherwell defender - No penalty.

Referee - Charlie Richmond

Celtic do get penalty but only after having 3 claims for a penalty, two of which were stonewallers.

Guardian - "Even if Celtic did have a legitimate claim for a penalty when Samaras was tripped by Reynolds. Another two poor decisions from referee Charlie Richmond denied them penalties after McGeady had equalised. When Celtic were finally awarded a penalty for Saunders's foul on Samaras, Robson gave the goalkeeper an easy save with a weak shot close to his left side."

8 November 2009 - Falkirk v Celtic

At 3-3 in last minute Celtic had a goal disallowed when TV showed it was ONSIDE.

Flag goes up for offside when Samaras clearly onside right through on goal.

Referee - Brian Winter

Daily Record - "Celtic fans yelped in frustration - and their mood would not have improved when television replays showed assistant Lawrence Kerrigan was wrong to flag for offside when Samaras was played in behind the Bairns defence in injury time."

His shot may have been blocked by Olejnik but it dropped to McDonald who poked the ball into the net only to see the flag fluttering along his line of vision. To be fair, Celtic players kept their protests to a minimum.

TWO points dropped

4 October 2009 - Rangers v Celtic

Celtic denied TWO stonewall penalties. Maloney booked for diving. Referee later apologises for getting one penalty decision rong.

Lafferty assaults Zhing Zhi and Weir recklessly follows through on McDonald. Neither booked.

Referee - Craig Thomson

STV website and various media - "Old Firm referee Craig Thomson has admitted he’s 'disappointed' at getting his decision wrong when he decided not to award Celtic a penalty in the 12th minute. Hugh Dallas said: 'Craig and I have had our post match de-brief. Whilst I would compliment Craig for his overall handling of yesterday's encounter, he is disappointed at his error of judgement when he decided against awarding a penalty to the visiting team in the 12th minute.'"

Motherwell manager Jim Gannon later said: "Right now there is a question mark over the standard of our refereeing, and it affects the SPL table. After the last Old Firm game Hugh Dallas had to defend the referee [Craig Thomson]. But the result of that match might have been different had the ref got the big decisions correct.

“At the end of the season Celtic could look back and say, ‘That result cost us the title.’ The fact is, if no one speaks up, then nothing will change.”

Assuming the worst Celtic would have gained a draw with 2 or 3 penalties being awarded.

ONE point dropped. TWO gained by Rangers.

26 September 2009 - Rangers v Aberdeen

McCulloch elbows Aberdeen player deliberately. No card and No TV evidence case by SPL.

Referee - Iain Brines

Daily Record - "Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch, however, was fortunate not to pick up a red card from Brines for an elbow on McGuire."

Rangers would have been playing 45 mins with 10 men if Brines had done his job. Next match for Rangers was Old Firm game. McCulloch escapes ban which could have been a 3 match ban for violent conduct.

21 September 2009 - Celtic v Hearts

McGinn chopped in box. Stonewall penalty denied with 5 mins to go.

Referee - Dougie McDonald

Daily Record - "The Northern Irish international was brought down inside the box by Lee Wallace with five minutes to go of Sunday's SPL clash at Parkhead, only for referee Dougie McDonald to award a corner to the bemusement of everyone inside the stadium."

Belfast Telegraph - "Five minutes from the end of normal time, the Irishman was denied what looked a clear-cut penalty by referee Dougie McDonald when he appeared to be chopped down by Jambos' left-back Lee Wallace as he burst into the Hearts penalty area. "

Celtic scored in 93rd minute and got the 3 points.

13 September - 2009 - Celtic v Dundee Utd

Celtic had a Samaras goal incorrectly chopped off for offside. Also denied stonewall penalty when Dodds handled ball in last minute. Dodds admitted to hand ball. Levein said he was surprised he never caught it.

Referee - Steve Conroy.

Scotland on Sunday - "Levein left the field quietly at the end and there was probably a reason for that. His side appeared to come out the right side of two highly contentious calls in the second half; a Georgios Samaras "goal" chalked off and a Celtic penalty claim waved away by referee Steve Conroy. The "goal" was put away by Samaras just before the hour mark and only a couple of minutes after he came on for Landry N'Guemo."

Tony Mowbray, in his understated way, challenged us to look at the incident on video, the comment of a man who is convinced that Samaras' effort should have stood. Much later, a couple of minutes into injury time in fact, an Andreas Hinkel cross hit Darren Dodds on the arm and many a spot-kick has been given in such circumstances. Asked about it later, Levein offered a cheeky response: "I've spoken to Darren about it and he said he was really disappointed he never held it. Dodds said: "The ball hit my head and then hit my thumb." That's that, then. It should have been a penalty."

TWO points dropped.

30 August 2009 - Hibs v Celtic

McGeady sent off for diving 45 yards from goal after riding a few tackles after going on a run.

Referee - Dougie McDonald

24 August 2009 - Hearts v Rangers

Rangers heading for a draw, awarded penalty in last minute for tackle which looked soft and looked outside box.

Referee - Craig Thomson

Daily Mail - "The Tynecastle side thought the penalty was harsh, arguing that the foul by Ismael Bouzid on Steven Naismith was committed outside the penalty box, while Rangers considered Thomson unlucky to be red-carded."

TWO points gained for Rangers.

**Thank you to "Keith" who sent this e-mail**