Thread: The Establishment/Paranoia Files

Decisions that have went against Celtic have cost Celtic 10 points this season. R*ngers have gained 10 points from dodgy decisions. A potential 20 point swing based on poor refereeing decisions. 2 controversial decisions kept R*ngers in the League Cup and there were 3 games in the Scottish Cup where R*ngers had dodgy decisions go there way.

3 opposing SPL managers (Levein, Gannon & May) make admission to the poor decisions against Celtic and a ref admits to error. (Thomson). Another 5 managers (Craig Brown, Gus McPherson, Peter Houston , Billy Reid & Jocky Scott) complain publicly about decisions that have favoured R*ngers. Also an opposing player (Zemmama) complains about decisions against R*ngers.

4 valid goals against R*ngers chopped off.
5 stonewall penalties against R*ngers denied.
4 very soft penalties awarded to R*ngers where opposing manager complains.
3 valid goals for Celtic chopped off.
8 stonewall penalties denied for Celtic.
Here are just some examples and quotes from media from 19 games this season.

3 April 2010 R*ngers v Hamilton

Perfectly good Hamilton equaliser is chopped off 10 minutes to go. TV showed was onside.

Sunday Mail “ANGRY Accies boss Billy Reid last night blasted the officials for denying his side a deserved draw at Ibrox. Hamilton were trailing to Mo Edu's first-half opener when James McArthur knocked home Alex Neil's cross 12 minutes from time. But linesman Steven Craven flagged for offside against sub Joel Thomas - even though McArthur was well onside. And ref Stevie O'Reilly chalked the goal off to hand R*ngers a 1-0 victory. Raging Reid said: "I don't think anyone could deny we deserved a point. "I haven't seen McArthur's goal on the monitor but I don't need to."I knew Joel was offside when the cross came in but James wasn't. He came from deep, timed his run well and I'm told he was three yards onside."I was celebrating the goal so I'm disappointed it wasn't given. I had a word with the ref but he had a hard decision."Some they get right, some they get wrong. He called this one wrong."
Sunday Herald “but this was a largely lethargic performance, and one which could have cost R*ngers further momentum in the title race had referee Stevie O’Reilly not disallowed a late James McArthur ‘goal’ for an offside which never was. Fifty-thousand hearts skipped a beat when the latest refereeing controversy of a long season arrived with 12 minutes left. Alex Neil curled in a cross, Joel Thomas made a nuisance of himself, and McArthur ran from deep to knee the ball into the bottom corner, only for linesman Steven Craven to spoil the celebrations by erroneously ruling him offside. R*ngers doing just enough to win, with a dubious officiating call thrown in: this game was like the 2009/10 SPL season in microcosm.

TWO points gained for R*ngers.


24 March 2010 Dundee United v R*ngers

Dundee United denied a stonewall penalty and had a valid goal chopped off 3 minutes to go.

Referee – Dougie McDonald
BBC website “ Kyle Lafferty handled in the R*ngers box in the first-half but escaped the award of a penalty against his side. However, despite strenuous penalty appeals from the United players, referee Dougie McDonald awarded a corner to the home side and booked Garry Kenneth for dissent towards the assistant referee. United were dominant for most of the game and David Goodwillie had the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside. United were dominant for most of the game and David Goodwillie had the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside (by linesman Brian McGarry.) United were dominant for most of the game and David Goodwillie had the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside. TV showed Goodwillie was onside. TV also showed Lafferty's hand moving towards the ball to block effort at goal. United scored a last minute winner to knock R*ngers out but they would have had a comfortable win if Dougie McDonald had done his job properly.

14 March 2010

R*ngers awarded 2 very soft penalties which Dundee United manager complains about.

R*ngers V Dundee United.

Referee – Dougie McDonald.

The Scotsman “Houston believed that his team could be in the semi-finals already if a couple of key decisions from the referee had not gone against the visitors."I was disappointed to lose what I thought were two soft penalties," he said.

Dundee United manager Peter Houston rued what he saw as two soft penalty awards by referee Dougie McDonald as his Tangerines earned a 3-3 draw against R*ngers yesterday.

Houston said: “I was disappointed to lose what I thought were two soft penalties. The goalkeeper got his foot to the ball for the first one and, for the second one, there could have been a foul on Danny Swanson as we are attacking R*ngers, he felt his heels clipped and the ball dropped to Kevin Thomson and the rest is history. “Sean Dillon and Kris Boyd come together, Kris goes down and it’s a penalty.”

BBC website - “I am disappointed and I just wonder if the penalties would have been given at the other end. I hope they would have been," said the Dundee United manager. "Dougie is an honest referee in normal circumstances, I think he is one of the best in Scotland. "But I was disappointed that he got there early to give the penalty kicks."

7 March 2010 R*ngers v St Mirren


Opposing manager advices that a different set of rules applies when coming to Ibrox.

Referee – Charlie Richmond.

From BBC Website - St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson was angry R*ngers' David Weir was not punished by referee Charlie Richmond for a foul early in the Buddies' loss at Ibrox. "I'm not wanting players booked or red-carded but there are laws to the game," MacPherson told BBC Scotland after Saints' 3-1 defeat. "David Weir impeded Michael Higdon in the process of shooting, he affected how he was shooting.

"There's a decision to get made there. No decision was made." MacPherson feels guidelines set down at the start of the season are not being adhered to. "It's compulsory that we must go to a meeting at the start of the season, it's not optional, and we're set down guidelines," he said."And during the course of the season, these guidelines change. I'm not just talking about St Mirren games, I'm talking throughout the game as we see it. "We watch games, we go to games and we see clips on the BBC and we see a different set of rules getting applied. None more so than when we're coming here (to Ibrox).”

28 February 2010 – R*ngers v Celtic

Scott Brown controversially sent off after altercation with Lafferty who did not receive a card. Bougherra got booked eraly on and then had 7 subsequent fouls on Celtic's forwards and did not get sent off. Ten men Celtic were pushed back for last 25 mins and Bougherra set up winning goal in injury time. Both teams had soft penalty claims denied in the match. Kamara & Edu. Neither were stonewallers but contact was made. Former ref Kenny Clark said the ref had a "very good game", then went on to state both 'Laugherty' and Bougherra were "fortunate" to stay on the park.

Referee – Dougie McDonald

The Scotsman :- striker Kyle Lafferty has admitted Scott Brown was unlucky to be sent off by referee Dougie McDonald in Sunday's Old F**m derby. Celtic have appealed against the red card dished out to their captain after a clash with Lafferty. R*ngers went on to seal victory thanks an injury-time goal from Maurice Edu and went ten points clear of their rivals.Northern Ireland international Lafferty, now preparing to face Albania in a friendly tonight, said: "To produce a red card was harsh but it is the referee's decision and is nothing to do with me.”

BBC Website - “Scott Brown claims that Scotland team-mates backed his belief that he had been harshly sent off for Celtic against R*ngers last weekend. Celtic failed in an attempt to have the red card overturned and the decision has left the midfielder mystified. "The decision is really disappointing," Brown, who will now miss three matches, told Celtic's official website. "I know our view was shared by many others and players that I've spoken to with the Scotland squad this week."

BBC Website “ And Clark said: "I've got to say that I did note a couple of times about Bougherra living dangerously, and I think he was on his very last life, as it were. "He was treading a very thin line. On another day he might well have been red-carded, but he got away with it. "I think he was very fortunate to remain where he was."

If the ref had sent off Bougherra and punished Lafferty and Brown equally the game would have more than likley finished a draw.

ONE point dropped for Celtic. Two gained by R*ngers.


14 February 2010 – Hibs v R*ngers

When does an elbow in the face = obstruction ? Opposing player incensed by decision.

Boyd elbows Zemmama in face which the Hibs player claimed would have been a sending off in other countries. Referee Conroy later said the booking was for obstruction which meant Boyd was not supsended for the upcoming Old F**m game. This is despite TV evidence showing that Conroy did not indicate it was an indirect free kick by not raising his hand when free kick was taken.

Referee – Steve Conroy

The Herald “Merouane Zemmama last night claimed Kris Boyd “went for his face” with his elbow and would have been sent off in other countries. The R*ngers striker was booked after his arm caught Zemmama. Walter Smith, the R*ngers manager, said he believed the caution had pushed his striker though the 18-point disciplinary mark, thus meaning Boyd would be unable to play against Celtic in two weeks. However, Steve Conroy, the match referee, later confirmed that the booking would only amount to two points for obstruction, leaving Boyd one point shy of suspension.

Zemmama, who also claimed Kenny Miller went down “far too easily” for the penalty which Boyd converted in the second half, said of the incident that led to the yellow card: “He hit me with his elbow in the face and I lay down. “In Scotland it was a yellow card but in other countries it would have been a red. The referee gave it for obstruction which surprised me because Boyd didn’t look for the ball, only for my face and body. 
It was a bad challenge, which was disappointing. I told him at half-time he should go for the ball and not my face, but he said nothing to me.”

Zemmama said of Conroy’s decision to award a spot kick after Miller went down after a challenge from Sol Bamba: “I don’t think it was a penalty and after that our morale was down. Miller went down far too easily.”


10 February 2010 - Motherwell v R*ngers

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.

Daily Record report next to a picture of Brown furiously pointing the finger at Callum Murray (referee) and linesman John Gilmour:-
“Craig Brown last night accused bungling linesman of costing Motherwell a famous victory over R*ngers. The furious Fir Park boss had to be dragged away from Gilmour at full-time as he protested the controversial decision to disallow a second-half Ross Forbes goal for offside. Forbes poked home Stephen Craigan's knockdown to seemingly put his side 2-0 up and on the brink of a first home win over Gers for seven years. But Gilmour flagged despite TV pictures later clearly showing the goal should have stood. Well boss Brown was in no doubt his side had been robbed and said: "I've seen the TV evidence and it indicates the goal was OK.”

ONE point gained for R*ngers


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 R*ngers

3-2 down and a very very doubtful penalty given to R*ngers, 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 R*ngers 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 R*ngers

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, R*ngers 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 R*ngers. 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


27 October 2009 Dundee v R*ngers League Cup quarter final.

Dundee were drawing 1-1 with R*ngers when they were denied not one but TWO stonewall penalties according to Dundee manager Jocky Scott.

Referee – Dougie McDonald

The Scotsman “Dundee manager Jocky Scott was fulsome in his praise of his team's efforts but incensed by the referee Dougie McDonald's refusal to accept two strong penalty claims from the home side with the score at 1-1. Midfielder Craig Forsyth went down under a challenge from R*ngers goalkeeper Neil Alexander, while Dundee also felt Griffiths was barged off the ball by Whittaker.

"I thought we performed brilliantly, especially up until R*ngers made it 2-1," said Scott. "I thought we were well in the game and, at that point, we were on top. Unfortunately, we didn't score a second goal when we were on top. But I don't think we deserved to lose 3-1. Apart from the own goal, a couple of decisions went against us. We had two stonewall penalty kicks not given, I don't care what anyone says. For the first one, Craig Forsyth says the goalkeeper definitely touched him.

"There was no reason for him to go down as he would have been in a position to score. For the second one, a blind man could see it was a definite foul. Sometimes you get these decisions against the bigger teams, sometimes you don't."

Unsurprisingly, Smith did not concur with his close friend's assessment of the incidents. "I didn't see the first one, because my view from the directors' box was obscured by a pole," said Smith, who was serving the last match of his four game SFA suspension from the technical area.

"But for the second one I felt it was a case of the Dundee player backing in to Steven Whittaker."

4 October 2009 - R*ngers v Celtic

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

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

Referee - Craig Thomson

STV website and various media - " Old F**m 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 F**m 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 R*ngers.

26 September 2009 - R*ngers v Aberdeen

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

Referee - Iain Brines

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

R*ngers would have been playing 45 mins with 10 men if Brines had done his job. Next match for R*ngers was Old F**m 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

BBC website - " Tony Mowbray insisted referee Dougie McDonald was wrong to send off Aiden McGeady for an alleged dive in Celtic's 1-0 win over Hibernian. McGeady's dismissal came just days after Arsenal's Eduardo was accused of diving against Celtic to win a penalty. "If we hadn't had the week we've had in the media, I would suggest the referee would never have made it a sending off." In March 2010 Evening Times refelected on that incident- “ Dougie McDonald sent off McGeady at Hibernian this season for diving. McGeady and Mowbray were both outraged at the decision.

The alleged offence happened on the halfway line where “simulation” to gain an advantage was perhaps not the likeliest option for McGeady to take. Many believed he was merely trying to avoid being injured as a tackle was coming in.

24 August 2009 - Hearts v R*ngers

R*ngers 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 R*ngers considered Thomson unlucky to be red-carded."
TWO points gained for R*ngers.


We have been cheated out of 20 points this season.

Originally Posted by IXI Liam IXI

Ghod dunno if you know but we are paranoid

smashing post ghod and thats just this season, and only the major decisions at that.

Aye just paranoid timmys.

All those managers and the press statements aren't factual, its all in our heads.

Top post RK, i would agree with that totally.

Its annoying when people (including our own fans) try to play down the blatant cheating, im guessing these people are influenced by huns/media in some way..

Originally Posted by Ghod

Top post RK, i would agree with that totally.

Its annoying when people (including our own fans) try to play down the blatant cheating, im guessing these people are influenced by huns/media in some way..

That is the only explination.

I know Huns but I refuse to even debate with them nowadays. Obviously others let themselves be brainwashed. And then there are those who read the tabloids...

Originally Posted by Ghod

Top post RK, i would agree with that totally.

Its annoying when people (including our own fans) try to play down the blatant cheating, im guessing these people are influenced by huns/media in some way..

Some people don't want to believe the beautiful game is corrupt.