hackwatching

bbc reporting of penalties awarded to celtic and rangers

In domestic games so far this season Celtic have been awarded 4 pens and conceded 1, Rearrangers have been awarded 7 and conceded 0 (this only takes into account penalties scored).

Not bad going for a season when we’ve been getting all the breaks from refs. Apparently.

I had a look at the BBC match reports from this season’s games where penalties have been scored by us and them. From this I was able to establish the BBC’s house rules when it comes to reporting:

1. Any penalty given to Rearrangers is never controversial.

2. If a Rankers penalty award was so farcical it simply cannot be ignored, it is essential to emphasise that the Gers had at least three other penalty claims in the match, no matter how laughable. Then you can assure the reader that really justice was done in the end even though the penalty they got might have been maybe possibly a wee bit slightly debatable if you were sitting at a funny angle.

3. Any opportunity to debate a Rearranges penalty award must be stifled at every turn. Links to MySportDebate 606 messageboards are reserved for 5-0, 6-0 wins so the fans can talk about how great the gers are

4. At least 50% of Celtic’s penalties are automatically controversial

5. Any instance of a referee failing to award Celtic a penalty under controversial circumstances is not worthy of reporting.

6. Where Celtic have been awarded a “controversial” penalty, maximum mileage must be gained from this by inviting fans of other clubs to whip themselves into a frenzy by providing a link to 606 messageboards asking them to vent their spleen on the dodgy Timmy Irishey sounding referee.

7. Almost same as point 6 - great prominence must be given to manager of the opposition doing his nut about “controversial” penalty awarded to Celtic

(there is no need to underplay reaction of opposing manager’s reaction to hun penalties as most don’t feel the need to comment)

BBC WEBSITE REPORTING ON PENALTIES AWARDED TO CELTIC AND REARRANGERS:

Celtic 1-0 St.Mirren
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7548992.stm
“Celtic got their defence of the Scottish Premier League title off to a winning start thanks to a controversial Barry Robson penalty against St Mirren.

But referee Eddie Smith ruled that Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had been held back by defender Will Haining when the striker was through on goal.

Haining was sent off and Robson’s spot kick spun over the line off the keeper.

But Celtic’s Dutch striker won the spot kick that led to the deadlock being broken after 62 minutes.

Vennegoor of Hesselink pounced when the Buddies defence failed to deal with a long ball through the heart of the defence and poked the ball wide of the post under pressure from Haining.
Referee Smith decided that the striker had been tugged from behind by the defender, who was shown a red card, although television pictures suggested that Vennegoor of Hesselink had been doing his own share of holding.”

MY SPORT: DEBATE
Give your reaction to the result at Celtic Park

“I love Celtic fans saying that the majority of calls go against them. I’ve watched for years and they get 80% of call in their favour. They won the league last year on pure fantasy officiating.”

“st mirren deserved the win u celtic fans r very luky ref shud also be docked wage rise for that penalty that was horrific Celtic have no chance lets just all pray that another team can battle for the title this season”

Rangers 2-1 Hearts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7561735.stm
“And Boyd clinched the win in injury time from the penalty spot after Kenny Miller was tripped in the box by Hearts defender Lee Wallace.”

NoMySportDebate box to slate the referee

Rangers 2-1 Kilmarnock
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7611554.stm
“Boyd fired home from the spot and shot home on the turn four minutes later before Gers’ Sasa Papac was sent off.

Boyd claimed for a penalty as Wright showed his strength by holding off the striker inside the box.

But the spot kick eventually came when Pascali wrestled Novo to the ground and Boyd fired the ball low past his former club’s goalkeeper.”

No MySportDebate Box

[Jim Jeffries doesn’t mention the penalty]

Kilmarnock 1-3 Celtic
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7624437.stm
“Samaras then galloped from inside his own half to slide in a perfect finish before tucking away a late penalty.

However, the visitors were gifted a glorious chance to open the scoring when Garry Hay clumsily upended Maloney to conceded a 19th minute penalty.”

MySportDebate box available to moan about the penalty, O** F*** conspiracies and Naka diving.

Celtic 4-0 Livingston
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7629596.stm
“And Samaras completed the misery for Livi from the spot with six minutes remaining after David MacKay felled Shaun Maloney in the penalty area.”

No MySport Debate box Amazingly.

Hamilton 1-3 Rangers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7687845.stm
“But Boyd, who controversially retired from the Scotland set-up this month, fired home the equaliser from the spot.

McClenahan appeared to panic when Kirk Broadfoot’s cross found Miller and the former Hereford defender’s push in the striker’s back led to a penalty driven home by Boyd.”

[manager Billy Reid has nothing to say about the hun penalty]

No MySport Debate Box to slate the referee? Don’t be daft.

Rangers 5-0 ICT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7701234.stm
“Boyd struck again with a cool finish and completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 28 minutes after the lively Miller had been tripped.

Rangers extended their advantage after Miller’s determined run in the penalty area was interrupted by David Proctor’s poor challenge.
Boyd seized the opportunity to add to his goal tally with a low shot past Fraser.”

No MySportDebate Box to slate the referee

Hamilton 1-2 Celtic
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7728910.stm
“Shunsuke Nakamura levelled from a penalty despite Martin Canning fouling Cillian Sheridan outside the box.
Canning was sent off as a result, and Celtic’s advantage told as Hartley won it with a crisp strike late on. The result was harsh on Hamilton, not least because of the dubious penalty award, but also because their overall play merited at least a point.

But with 37 minutes on the clock, Celtic pulled a goal back through Nakamura from the penalty spot. However, Accies may well feel aggrieved, as Canning’s trip on Sheridan appeared to have taken place just outside the box.”

Hamilton manager Billy Reid:
“Once again, match officials have let us down badly. There’s a tug, it’s well outside the box. The assistant referee has got involved. If he’s going to do that, then he’s got to get it right. And he’s called it wrong. That was the turning point in the game. Up until that, we were the better side. We passed the ball better and we were in Celtic’s faces.”

MySportDebate Box debate box for fans to slate the referee.

Comments include: “Yet again the Scottish officials are conspiring to help the old firm. That was shocking today, Hamilton were doing very well until that penalty / sending off and who knows, they may have even won the game or at least got a draw. But no, it was not to be, yet again the official saw fit to ‘help’ Celtic.”

“5 points less. That’s what Celtic would have if replay evidence was being used this year. That would put you 1 point behind Rangers at the moment, and as much as it pains me to say it, Rangers have actually had more decisions go against them this year than normal.
They would be a good 4-5 points clear, *if* replay technology was being used.”

This from a “Kilmarnock” fan with a photographic memory of incidents involving Celtic through orange tinted specs.

Rangers 7-1 Hamilton
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7766278.stm
“Martin Canning was sent off for a trip on Boyd, who converted the resultant penalty before netting his third in the 62nd minute.

Rangers were given the chance to extend their lead shortly after the restart when Canning was penalised in the box for denying Boyd a goal-scoring opportunity.

The Accies defender was promptly red-carded by referee Calum Murray and Boyd coolly slotted home the spot-kick.”

No MySportDebate box to slate the referee

Rangers 3-1 Falkirk
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7832201.stm
“but Rangers levelled with a disputed Kris Boyd penalty shortly before half-time

Rangers claimed for a penalty when Boyd went down in the box under Olejnik’s challenge, but the goalkeeper was adjudged to have made contact with the ball as he conceded a corner.

Referee Willie Collum denied further spot-kick appeals by Barry Ferguson and Miller before Papac tested Olejnik from distance.

But Rangers were awarded a penalty when Cregg was penalised for a challenge on Boyd and Bullen was booked for dissent as Falkirk protested.”

No MySportDebate box for fans to slate the referee

Rangers 2-0 Dundee Utd
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7858967.stm
“Fleck took a penalty he won himself after a nudge in the back by Mihael Kovacevic as the forward thrust into the United box after 78 minutes.”

No MySportDebate box for fans to slate the referee.

More paranoid ranting available at www.celticparanoia.blogspot.com

 

TONY BANANAS & HACKWATCHER