Dundee United manager Craig Levein was fined £5,000 last season for criticising a Scottish referee, so its wasn`t a surprise that this time round he was more guarded in his comments.
Referee Mike McCurry sparked controversy by not awarding a stonewall penalty to Dundee United at Ibrox, after Noel Hunt was brought down by Rangers defender David Weir.
McCurry then chalked off a legitimate goal, after advice from the linesman that Noel Hunt was offside, despite it being a clear own goal, scored by David Weir.
Not to be outdone, it was Charlie Richmond`s turn this time to make sure that Dundee United were denied a stonewall penalty after Roy O`Donovan was brought down by Celtic`s Gary Caldwell at the edge of the 6-yard box.
With the score at 1-0 to Celtic, Dundee United should have had the chance to equalise from the spot, but once again a Scottish referee bottled out of a crucial decision in a match against the Old Firm.
When being interviewed after the match, Craig Levein was very careful when talking about the incident infront of the Setanta cameras.
“I haven`t seen it yet, but you`ve just told me it was a stonewall penalty”, said Levein when asked about the penalty incident.
“What do I say? I`m going to run out of money at some point.”
“I feel really sorry for the fans who witness it, they don`t deserve that.”
Levein believes that the decision might have been in retaliation for his treatment of Mike McCurry last season, but would be disappointed if that was the case.
He continued, “If its because I speak out and speak my mind, then that`s a terrible, terrible thing to happen. I just want us to get a fair crack of the whip, that`s all.”
“It was a real blow not to get the penalty. We might have missed the penalty, but the point being that is was a penalty.”
“Those things sometimes go against you, but I hoping that with a normal amount of luck that we will get those decisions in our favour some day.”
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It’s been going on for years and won’t change until more managers speak out in a Leveinesque style. Fining managers for speaking the truth is odd but bet you’re bottom dollar if it was one of the ugly sisters managers who spoke out the whole matter would be swept under the carpet. Scottish football is run by clowns who pander to the Glasgow press and bow down to the OF at every given opportunity. It’s a pity the English Premiership don’t want them – the sooner they leave the better.
That decision was every bit as bad as McCurrys last season. An absolute disgrace….and he gets £800 for the privilege…
Scottish Referees are pure and simply corrupt.
Hugh Dallas said in yesterdays Sunday Mail referees are frightened for their familys.
So in other words, in order for their familys to be alright they take the easy decisions and give the old firm everything. Totally corrupt no other way to describe it. They have been given a huge pay rise the least we could have expected was for them to answer to some one in return. What other job do you get away with doing what you want and not having to explain or justify it. All the provincial clubs should stick together and stand up against this obscene cheating.
Mr.H, that was a very extreme compassion. I think the United fans will agree that it is going to take a lot to equal McCurrys disgrace last season. It was a stonewall penalty and United should have got it, if any team deserves a decision to go their way its United. They were also robbed in the CIS Cup final last season when Cuellar manhandled DeVries, and Cuellar was also the last man. I think overall a point was a fair result given that we did have chances as well and Craig Levein admitted this. We didn’t take them and I think it could have swung either way. Had United been given the penalty, which they should have been I think the game would have remained 1-1 anyway.
**Comparison**