Refs under the microscope

Have our referees made some major boobs this weekend, with four red cards being appealed by their clubs.

The SFA have announced today that four red cards handed out over the weekend will be appealed and heard at a Fast Track Tribunal on Thursday, 3 November. Does this mean there is not a lot of respect for the decisions being made by our referees.

There are three appeals in the SPL, Inverness appealing Chris Hogg’s red against Motherwell,Aberdeenfor Rory Fallon’s red against Rangers and Gary Mason for his red against Dundee United.

Interestingly Hearts have not appealed against Ian Black’s probably just as well as it was a stone waller!

Looking at the other three, Hogg’s looked a stone waller at the game but having seen it on RTV I would say it was a bit harsh as it was hard to say Murphy was in a goal scoring position. This will make Terry Butcher feel vindicated after he had vented his spleen during and after the game.

Ref Crawford Allan was fussy throughout the game, he missed what looked like a more sure fired sending off in the first half when Meekings went over the top on Steven Hammell, not a good day for this ref – jeered off by both sets of fans.

Aberdeen are appealing the sending off of Rory Fallon after he was shown red for an elbow, again seeing the TV pictures this looked more accidental than deliberate. He could see his appeal upheld but reduced to a yellow, which added to the one he got earlier in the game would still see him seeing red!

Again the ref could have issued another red in the game, when Steven Naismith went over the top, injuring himself in the process. Again not a good day for the ref at Pittodrie either!

Final appeal in the SPL isDunfermline’s Gary Mason who was sent off for serious foul play, I have a feeling this will not be repealed as the tackle looked high and reckless and deserved a red. Maybe this ref got it right then!!!

In the SFL, Dundee are appealing Rab Douglas’s red card after he was sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity, I would love to comment on it but haven’t seen it yet.

I think the SFA need to have a real look at things when four major decisions like this are being appealed by their clubs.