An olive branch to try and resolve the problem between Celtic and the Scottish Football Association was offered last night. The president of the SFA George Peat that the difference between the SFA and Celtic are not the war some say, the reality is much different. He met with the chief executive of Celtic, Peter Lawwell and the Celtic CE is in full support of the plan Stewart Regan, our chief executive is driving, he said.
The Celtic manager, Neil Lennon also received words of support from Peat as well. There are fluctuations in football fortunes that continue to be a part of the game and so is an occasional visit to the sixth floor at Hampden Park but delivery of suspicions packages, death threats and the necessity for around the clock protection is most certainly not, expressed Peat.
Two managers were also in agreement when Lennon and Craig Brown agreed that the dismissal of a player for committing a foul trying to prevent a goal scoring opportunity has to be looked at. Andrew Considine brought down Gary Hooper and was sent off after having suffered the same outcome for a foul in a league match in February on Scott Brown.
Even though a penalty was saved by Jamie Langfield it was almost inevitable Celtic’s win when Aberdeen was reduced to 10 men. It was quite damaging for Aberdeen psychologically. The rule has to be looked because if a player makes a genuine attempt and is beaten, then of course a penalty should be called but a red car is harsh punishment enough.
The majority of managers want to see 11 versus 11 when at all possible. The mandatory sending off needs to be looked at because you lose the player for the game and that same player is lost for the following game and all for a genuine attempt to challenge for the ball.