Quite interesting to hear Walter Smith’s post-match comments about the officiating at last night’s Motherwell-Rangers match.
Supposedly Rangers were denied a goal by a dodgy offside decision made by assistant referee Tom Murphy, a man who has been no stranger to controversy involving our own club in recent years it has to be said. Clearly exasperated, Smith insinuated that the integrity of Mr Murphy in matches involving the Old Firm clubs was up for question, citing that he had allowed Scott McDonald to score a goal for Celtic recently from a clearly offside position as another example.
Now, Smith’s observations may well be correct in terms of Murphy’s apparent leanings towards a certain team from the east end of Glasgow – we’ve witnessed some incredible bias from this gentleman in matches involving Celtic and Hearts in recent years – but regardless of whether or not he has a point, aren’t his comments technically ‘bringing the game into disrepute’, a ‘crime’ that has gotten Hearts into all sorts of bother during the Vladimir Romanov era?
Personally I’m all for free speech from managers after football matches. Stakes are high and if incorrect decisions have been made that could potentially cost someone their job or their club a lot of money then managers are entitled to complain about them, just as they are if they feel that said decisions were made by people with ulterior motives.
But that’s unfortunately not the way that it works in Scotland. Managers (or any other club representative for that matter) get themselves into all sorts of bother for uttering anything even resembling negativity towards match officials after games, so one would therefore like to think that the SFA will be consistent in their treatment of Smith on this occasion. If not, then it once again gives the conspiracy theorists cause to re-iterate that there are rules for some clubs and others for the rest.
So, what’s it likely to be? A touchline ban? A hefty fine? Quiet word in the ear? Or will it be completely swept under the carpet never to be mentioned again. I wonder…….
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Is this a joke headline? Will the SFA throw the book at Walter Smith??????? Are you kidding? Since Rangers came back for Smith to lure him away from the Scotland job, Walter Smith has continually stuck two fingers up to them starting with the resignation from the international post and continuing along to yesterday. He has said things which have been derogatory and insulting all along and gets away with it each time. They would never throw a book at Walter or Rangers. Rangers are a protected scecies.
Och “wee tim”
If the headline offends you. You can always run and tell the Irish consulate? Just an idea.
Ha Ha Brilliant
i agree with weetim nothing will happen to tht mob
Funny how there was no uproar when over-rated tossr boyd scored an offside goal a few weeks back. Excuses are only used losers.
I,m somewhat surprised at Walter identifying one debatable decision for his teams failings last night at Fir Park to be honest ,, I Genuinely thought he was a bigger and better man than that ,, the bottom line is that Rangers are not good enough and to use a borderline off – side decision to disguise this beggars belief ,, as regards his comments ?? well Yes ,, if you take into consideration what has happened to Hearts & Dundee United over the last couple of seasons and the precedent set then the logical conclusion is that Watty has overstepped the mark and should be held accountable accordingly …. will it happen …… NO ….!!!
…and if it doesn’t, the likes of Hearts should be writing to the governing body to ask why these double standards continue to be applied.
Will the SFA throw the book at Walter Smith….erm…NO!
And stangely no headlines in the Daily Retard along the lines of … ” Smith faces touchline ban after ref outburst”
Shocked and stunned…
“NOT “…!
no! they won’t throw the book at him, they’ll just invite him to a “think tank” to discuss how to improve the game (see link below)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/7730721.stm
if laszlo came out with such an accusation he’d be fined heavily. but walter smith speaks his mind and not only accuses the officials of not doing their job properly but accuses them of bias toward the opposite side of the OF (essentially accusing him of corruption) and his point of view is valued so much he is invited to a meeting to further express his view on how to improve the game.
seems fair eh?
Scandalous ……… but normal ..!!!
Can anyone explain why only SIX managers have been invited ? No foreigners allowed, obviously.
does seem a bit crazy all managers should be invited
Further examples of xenophobia…..allegedly….