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Great point - a bit of common sense here would have seen someone else referee the match. Preventable.

First up let's agree that it is unacceptable for Officials and their families to be targeted, Anyone threatening them should be prosecuted. Same goes for anyone inciting hate or repercussions online. I include the release of personal information. So I await with interest to see what prosecutions take place. If any. Regards the SFA Statement. It is general and non specific. John Beaton and his family were subject to threats and shocking intimidation following decisions he made in a Celtic v Rangers game. That is a matter of record and is reprehensible. (Was any Celtic fan prosecuted?). But nowhere does the Statement say he was threatened following Wednesday night. Given the nightmare he and his family went through previously I can understand the need for caution and therefore the need for immediate police involvement. A sensible move, particularly as his home address is in the public domain. But a precaution only unless there was/is a specific threat. In which case let us see those prosecutions. Let's call out this Statement for what it is. A deflection from the reality that many Officials are incompetent and unaccountable. A deflection from the possibility that an error may determine who wins the League. A deflection from the reality that there is no plan in place to improve standards despite an admission that errors occur. A deflection from the fact that numerous ex players (with no allegiance to Motherwell or Hearts) were agitated enough to highlight a decision made with no understanding of the game. A deflection in an attempt to turn those incompetent Officials into victims. No doubt many will buy that story as it is a clever narrative. Almost as effective as the concerted efforts of the Celtic media machine which we witness regularly This Statement takes the circling of the wagons to a new level. When you have no justification, go on the attack. Finally. Thanks to our fans who resisted the temptation to confront the Celtic supporters who invaded Fir Park and scared the daylights out of those Motherwell fans in the disabled section. The police and Celtic players certainly did little to help clear the pitch. No surprise there. Fortunately we did not see a rerun of Ibrox a few weeks ago. No doubt just 'exuberance' yet again. Any Statement from the SFA or Celtic? Thought not. And yes! I'm still hurting even though the Hibs result rendered the penalty meaningless in our drive for fourth place,

Would also be entertaining if Ox helps relegate St Mirren.

The politicians just parrot what their PR agents and spin doctors tell them to say.

To be honest I’m not sure our politicians are politically savvy never mind someone at the SFA.

If there are any potential conflicts we can just terminate his contract before the final. Dunfermline sign him as a free agent. Win - win.

Dunfermline wont keep out Celtic irrespective of who starts in goals, so there will be no pressure on him.

That is straight out of the Celtic/Peter Lawwell book of deflect and point the finger in the other direction. Funny that eh?

Will add to my above post. Someone politically savvy at the SFA has used the oldest trick in the book. Change the narrative from us being at fault to the other party being in the wrong.

I wouldnt trust this mob to commit to change. As ive said previously put rangers and celtic in a 2 team league let them hammer each other and let the rest of us get on with it. How many of us would happily never play them again.

Connolly has to start. Ox could be the difference in us qualifying for europe. Poor at Hibs puts us 5th and then he keeps out Celtic to win cup and put us out. Not fair to put that kind of pressure on the lad.

And no big Ox for Dunfermline, not sure if that’s been mentioned earlier

Always good to see Baraclough on the telly when it's playoff time.

Confirmed on the Beeb that Ward is injured.

Connelly to start then?

Or perhaps he should hang up his whistle.

Now official. Ox has been recalled. As Denny suggests I suspect Ward is carrying an injury. Will return to Dunfermline after tomorrow.

I'm not disappointed that nothing was released, it would only have come across as a reaction to the decision that night. What I'd rather they do is garner support from throughout the league and then have a group of clubs approach the governing body about the generally abysmal state of refereeing and get them to commit to change. A single statement will do nothing, there needs to be a coordinated campaign by the vast majority of clubs to apply sufficient pressure to force change for the better.

That Ward was injured when he clashed with Maeda? He got treatment at the time and was noticeably limping. Could just be a precaution if they brought Ox back as cover just in case. Big game for us so all bases need covered.

Rumours on P & B that the Ox has been recalled. What does that imply? He's not playing for the Pars tonight.

Hoping This will be our best display of the season with the result to match it. COYW!!!

Did they get Kettlewell to write that statement. Deflect the issue away from the real one. Make it harassment instead. After years of of mistakes AND bias he should be sacked. Yes I am still angry and we all knew from history with this guy something shady would likely happen.

Nah all they will get is a large fine for the club for all that pyro nonsense on Saturday.

There is nothing new in this sadly. I have said on here a few times before that my family were good friends with a prominent referee back in the 1980's and they had to be moved out of their house for a week after a controversial decision in a Celtic v Dundee Utd game. Needless to say it was not the Dundee Utd fans that targeted the family. That was long before the days of VAR. It was a very scary situation for them at the time. As I have also said before this particular referee was a Motherwell fan and I remember him saying that when he looked back on his career he felt that he refereed Motherwell more strictly than other teams almost like a unconscious overcompensation so that he could never be accused of favouritism.

I don't suppose the club shop has long sleeve replicas in smaller sizes than what's available online?