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SPL November 2010
Scottish Premier League News November 2010: Ongoing Referee Controversy For Celtic
Ali Hannah
Celtic
Celtic will meet the SFA this month as they seek answers from the ongoing controversy surrounding their match with Dundee United at Tannadice last month.
The meeting has been arranged after the referee Dougie McDonald was reprimanded by the SFA for his admission that he told a "white lie" to both his superiors and the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon immediately after the match. McDonald had overturned a penalty he had awarded to Celtic during that game, something he initially and wrongly claimed was prompted by Steven Craven, his assistant referee.
Craven has since resigned and issued a stinging criticism of Hugh Dallas, the SFA's head of refereeing. Celtic believe the comments of Craven, McDonald and Stewart Regan, the SFA's chief executive, have provided more questions than answers and will seek further clarification on the issue.
One of the explanations they will seek concerns Craven's accusation that Dallas had been guilty of "harassment, victimisation and bullying". Of Dallas's role in the affair, Craven added: "My reading of the situation was Hugh wanted to protect Dougie and leave me to take the flak."
Dallas responded to the quotes which appeared in a national Sunday newspaper with a stinging rebuke. He said: "I am extremely angry and upset at the completely unsubstantiated allegations made by Steven Craven in a newspaper. Unfortunately, these allegations have given rise to the suggestion that I was involved in some sort of 'cover-up': nothing could be further from the truth. I was adamant from the time that Dougie first contacted me that an accurate version of events be established.
"Dougie and the other assistant at the game, Charlie Smith, have since corroborated the correct chronology of events on the field and in the dressing room, which has cast serious doubt over the legitimacy of Craven's own claims.
"I am dismayed and saddened that the reputation I have built up over 30 years in refereeing could be besmirched by such unfounded allegations."
Dallas has been assured of the SFA's full backing. "The Scottish FA is unequivocal in its support of Hugh Dallas," Regan said. "In the past week, I have spoken extensively to Hugh as part of my investigation into the events at the recent match between Dundee United and Celtic and have found him to be helpful and honest throughout this process."
Celtic, who went public last season with the revelation that they had approached the SFA for an explanation for a string of dubious officiating decisions in major games, will watch the situation with interest.
Meanwhile, defender Thomas Rogne has insisted he is ready and willing to be Daniel Majstorovic's permanent partner in the centre of the Celtic defence.
The notion that Rogne is the most promising centre-half on Celtic's books was enhanced when he made his comeback from injury this month. His first appearance of the season contributed to the side recording a clean sheet for the first time in six games.
The Norwegian has had one frustrating injury after another since arriving in January but despite that, and the fact he is only 20-years-old and inevitably experienced, Rogne was in no doubt that he was capable of holding down a regular first team place. He was called in after Glenn Loovens was dropped for poor performances against Rangers and then against St Johnstone in the Co-operative Cup.
"We have great players in my position," said Rogne. "Glenn has played most of the games and done very well. For me it was a question of getting fit so that when you are available for selection you know you can play. I just waited to get the chance.
"You learn from playing. When I play with experienced players like I was in my last game - on my right Mark [Wilson] and Daniel on my left - it's perfect for learning. Daniel is a good player. We can speak the same language as well which is an advantage. He's so experienced and he helps a lot. It's a pleasure to play alongside him and I hope to develop that partnership."
Prior to a 3-0 win over St Johnstone on the final weekend in October, Celtic's last clean sheet had been on September 22 and there was growing scrutiny of Loovens and Majstorovic's unconvincing partnership. "We get a lot of praise when we do well and a lot of criticism when we don't," said Rogne. "Some is deserved and some isn't. We don't listen to the criticism, we just listen to what the manager says."
Rogne has played five times for Celtic and they have never conceded a goal with him in the defence. A sequence of minor injuries, the most recent a calf problem, has limited his involvement and even a highly promising display against Rangers at Ibrox in February was curtailed by a problem which resulted in his early substitution. Although he was understandably a little rusty on his comeback, there were flashes of the class which has led to high hopes around the club.
"It's been one thing after another, small things," he said of the injuries. "It's like I take two steps forward and one back. Maybe one of my strengths as a footballer is the mental side. I get down when I'm injured and I'm out of the team but I always find a way to stay motivated and keep pushing myself.
"Saturday was just one game. To keep a clean sheet was good but I just have to keep looking forward. I haven't done anything yet. I don't want to lose my head but I am happy with the game."
Rangers
There have been few gripes among the Ibrox support so far this season after an almost perfect start to their title defence.
After leaving the first Old Firm game of the season with a comfortable 3-1 win, optimism was high at Rangers. However, a 1-1 draw at home with lowly Inverness Caley Thistle brought them back to earth and as well as leaving just one point of a gap at the top of the SPL table, also served as a warning for what may lie ahead this term.
The benefits accrued in the first Old Firm encounter of the campaign were all but negated by the Highlanders, who refused to join the long list of SPL clubs whom Walter Smith's side have steamrollered this season.
Rangers were aiming for 10 straight league wins, which would been the club's best start to a season in 112 years, and it was thought to be a foregone conclusion. However, the only conclusion reached at the end of the 1-1 draw was that the Ibrox squad remains perilously threadbare as the games keep coming thick and fast.
Amidst a disastrous and confidence-sapping Champions League campaign last year, five points were dropped against Aberdeen and two against Hibernian. The Light Blues' recovered to make it two-in-a-row but it should not be forgotten that Tony Mowbray had made lame Rangers' only credible rivals in this annual two-horse race.
This season's European exertions have been much more satisfactory for Smith's side but, along with the good run in the league, it has brought with it the whiff of complacency.
Midfielder Maurice Edu scored in that game against Caley but was kept in at the break after taking a knock, while wide-man Vladimir Weiss also missed the second half with a heel complaint. James Beattie, the showcase Ibrox signing of the summer is also injured again.
The 32-year-old had only made his comeback against the Hoops after initially picking up the injury in September and joins fellow striker Nikica Jelavic on the sidelines until December.
Once again, Smith will have to fill his bench with youngsters such as Kyle Hutton, John Fleck and Gregg Wylde in the immediate weeks, which, on European nights especially, shines a light on the paucity of resources. The first Old Firm game of the season might have shown us that Rangers' first XI is better - but the title won't be won by 11 players.
Celtic recovered from the derby defeat quickly. After a nervy 3-2 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the Co-operative Insurance Cup in midweek, Hoops manager Neil Lennon sorted out his defensive problem that is Glenn Loovens by replacing him with fit-again Thomas Rogne for the trip to Perth in the SPL at the weekend.
If Smith tries to give 40-year-old Davie Weir or Madjid Bougherra a rest, he turns to find injured-again Andy Webster staring him in the face. Even with Scott Brown, Beram Kayal, Gary Hooper, Daryl Murphy, James Forrest and Shaun Maloney out, Lennon still had plenty of options and permutations available to him.
Lennon will look to bolster his squad in January, a luxury that is unlikely to be bestowed on Smith. It may prove to be during that mid-season transfer window that the title will be won or lost.
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