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If the ref had decided on the day that it was simulation - just like diving in the box - the result would have been a yellow. The 4-match suspension is punishment for making the ref and VAR officials look a bunch of twats, not for the offence itself.

I'll add that, the attractive football on display has increased the home attendance by over 50%. This is something that I didn't think would ever happen. This alone, must be of great benefit to the club.

If the team can have a collective off-day and still not lose, we're doing not too bad. I think everyone needs a wee break, not just the players. There seemed to be a collective anxiety around the place on Saturday, with the prospect of losing a third consecutive game at the end of a fortnight that kicked-off with such high hopes and expectations. Maybe a mental reset is needed before the run-in, just as much as a physical rest.

We're back to not being able to hold more than one opinion at a time here. Slattery was wrong. The Ref and Referee's assistant were both wrong to send off King. VAR was wrong to not review the red card (like they had already done for Gogic) The SFA was wrong for waiting 4 weeks and choosing to re-referee 3 different individuals' decisions. Do you think they'll go back now and give us our penalty at Ibrox or give Oxlade-Chamberlain a red? If a player dives to get a penalty, will they now be subject to a 4 week suspension? If not, why not? That has a direct impact games. What about feigning head injuries to waste time with stoppages?

I am finding this one a little difficult to stomach I have to admit. Yes, Slattery made a fool of himself and yes it took a little bit of a shine off of what was otherwise the perfect performance. This kind of behaviour needs stamped out of football and in a world where all things are equal the punishment probably fits the crime but all things are not equal and the organisation doing the finger wagging in Slattery''s direction oversee a tiny shitty world where they are more than happy to turn a blind eye to some of the bigger vagueries of Scottish Football. We have not heard a single word of condemnation from the SFA on the scenes at Ibrox a few weeks ago. The bigotry, the sectarian singing that could be heard both on radio and TV. The pitch invasions, the aggression, the on field violence. No word, no punishment, no finger wagging. This is an organisation that oversees one of the most toxic environments in World football and is happy to continue doing so because of the money it generates. Hatred sells! It sticks in my throat when that same organisation decides to randomly take the moral high ground on one single isolated incident when similar incidents are happening every single weekend in every single game in the country. The decision making is haphazard, incoherent and hugely subjective. Ultimately we have to suck it up because Slattery was in the wrong and brought this trouble upon himself and the club but I hate being lectured to, (with the verbose language they hide behind), by an organisation that has very little interest in actually creating the level playing field that would actually make the game in Scotland one we could all buy into.

Also, great how they can make this decision but have said and done nothing about the rioting and nonsense by the Old Firm eejits after their game at Ibrox recently.

In fairness, Joe is 74 now.

Taking all the emotion and subjectivity out of the situation, simulation is a yellow card offence not a two game ban. ( or 4 suspended). The penalty should be based on that single action alone and not any other circumstances that come after. Slattery's action is the same regardless of what comes next. Doing 35 in a 30 is three points on a drivers licence and does not become 9 points just because the Police are pissed off that nobody put some spool in the speed camera or because they don't like the look of your re-spray. The suspension is about more than Slattery's actions (which were pish) and this clause the SFA have pulled out is to allow them to make whatever whimsical point they want to make at this moment in time. It will not be a clause that is used even handedly moving forward.

Deliberately feigning injury to get a player sent off should be a red card offence. Referees might be incompetent and VAR might be a shambles but I doubt they are actively cheating like Slattery was. Trying to twist the incident so that the SFA is at fault is ridiculous. Our player cheated, got caught and is now being rightly punished. Let it be a lesson to others, Motherwell players or otherwise that that kind of blatant cheating is totally unacceptable. And BTW the sort of pathetic paranoia that 'it wouldn't happen to this team or that team ' is exactly the same justification the Old Firm use all the time. Take some ownership.

How many games are the VAR officials banned for?

I think there is that little bit of pressure on the supporters as well as the players when we turn up to Firpark with the expectation of a win rather than simply the hope of one. I think the pressure of the potentially massive prize on offer did get to everyone and as you say there is possibly a mental tiredness as well as a physical tiredness associated with that. Now that the talk of league titles is over the pressure may ease from everyone a little bit. Having said that, I am not convinced that the league title is completely dead in the water and I don't think the players or manager will have given up all hope either. Beat Falkirk and Hearts and things could suddenly look very interesting again particularly when the OF look less than convincing. It may still work in the teams favour that we have been written out of the title race.

Im going for a strong finish to the season 7 games left, so why not 7 wins and a 75 point total, and see what that gets us. No Alcohol was consumed before posting, coyw.

I think you need to look beyond the points in the league and the cup games. Jens arrived at a club that let’s be honest was playing terrible football and had essentially become a bottom six team that might just survive if we get a decent run. Within a summer he totally transformed our style of play, exciting to watch, hard to beat and holding onto the ball for long periods of games. Comfortably into the top six and have an outstanding chance of Europe. You have to look at where we have come from to judge how good he has been.

If you don't think we have a plan B you haven't been listening to Jens or the players. He has been training the players to adapt to low blocks, high presses, being kicked, long high balls etc. It doesn't mean, however, it always works. There's a reason no team in the league wins every game. We need every player to be on it, and sometimes they are not.

I see Ross County fans are complaining about results and especially entertainment value. They're not happy bunnies. I can't think why.

As Busta said above, King wasn't completely blameless. Whether contact was made or not, his red card should have stood, as the intent was there.

There is not a footballer on the planet current or historic that has not exaggerated a tackle, feigned injury, took a tumble to win a foul, penalty etc, its always been part of football and always will be. So lets not get all " holier than thou and sanctimonious" about Slattery. The questions that should be asked is when are the incompetent faceless clowns at the SFA etc going to be held accountable for the current shit show that is ruining Scottish football.

Yes, its a catch all. "A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football." Now if the SFA is going to continue applying that in games we can expect a deluge of such cases. Many every weekend in fact. How about investigating all such cases since the turn of the year or even since the start of the season? Cheating by shirt pulling Cheating by stealing yards at throw ins and free kicks Harassing a referee Cheating by simulation Managers openly wanting their players to dive to win penalties. Cheating by committing off the ball fouls A referee treating players with disrespect The list is endless. How often do you hear pundits in the media saying "he had to take one for the team"? A phrase I detest. You're right Bobby. Mr Slattery will have to be cleaner than clean in future.

Will Clancey and co be suspended for their cheating re Chamberlains red card offence on Just? Its on the audio! Will Chamberlain be cited for a dangerous tackle? or is falling over to highlight an assualt attempt worse than injurying an opponent? What about simulation to win penalties? At the time it could not be proved the saints player connected but now we are to believe he did not. Another example of over zealous authorities with a new agenda. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs they have made up a punishment and hammered the small guys. No chance they do this to Celtic or Rangers. Going forward, Con the authorities and be hammered but the officials now need to be held accountable for their lack of professionalism and constant, apparently honest, mistakes. The whole thing stinks. At this point of the season a quiet word in his ear and notice they would clamp down on it next season would have sufficed. Another point. The saints player being sent off did not hinder them. They were already beat and successfully appealed the decision prior to next game. Players con officials at every turn. Where do they draw the line?

If var had done its job properly, the St mirren player would never been sent off, Slattery would have had a yellow card and that would have been the end of it. But they made a James Hunt of it and Slattery gets a 2 game ban instead of a yellow card, it really is a feckin shambles of an organisation, can you imagine the shit storm if it had been one of ghe ugly sisters players getting banned. The clubs really need to grow a set and start challenging the whole set up, as its not fit for purpose.

The authorities have opened a can of worms for themselves with this decision. It will be interesting to see how many others are treated in the same way. There needs to be consistency for everyone.

That’s the SFA re-re-refereeing the incident and making a rod for their own backs going forward. Absolute clowns. https://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2026/03/26/callum-slattery-retrospective-action/

We currently have two right backs and two left backs. SODs is a right back who is a more than adequate emergency centre half and JK who can do a reasonable job covering on the left. Longelo we know is excellent on his day, whereas Wilson may not be up to the task and is getting very little chance to develop at Raith. I'd try to move Wilson on find a better backup option for that position. Sparrow is a midfielder who can cover at right back, but he's not great there, and he's even worse at left back. McGhee is a midfielder that can do a job at centre half and I like him, so I hope he sticks around for a while.

They can make bids for him all they want. They would be crazy to think no other clubs have noticed his form. As for Jonny K - yep, new contract please. The lad is a good player. Baffles me how Kettlewell couldnt see it.

Fanx! I feel pwoud, vewwy pwoud..........

That then stems from media coverage. I used to think that the Compliance Officer's staff ploughed through every single minute on the previous weekends Premiership games, on a Monday. Not so. They simply homed in on the action that the media chose to highlight. If the media like you then all is fine if it doesn't then watch out.

Actually it was the big lips he didn't like

Agree 100% Busta. The club made this very same point at the initial hearing. The bottom line is that footage is inconclusive. The lack of contact was not proved beyond all reasonable doubt. The facts have been manipulated to suit a particular narrative and thats unsafe and downright wrong. Something doesn't smell right.

Youve got to wonder who pushed for Slattery to be cited. St Mirren? Surely the officials did not as it only highlights how bad they are!

So when do we see the OF punishment for the scenes at cup game?

I didnt mean defending his actions. Maybe I should have said "raising concerns regarding the level of punishment and its implications for the wider game......"

Not that I know of. The worst case of that I can recall was Craig Gordon at Fir Park a few years ago when he collapsed several times feigning serious injury to waste time. I lost all respect for him that day and have had no time for him ever since.

Algarve? Is that a new pub in Hamilton? 😉

this, but we should play with a goalie too

The only sensible thing about this is the two games suspended. Have that in the back of a player's mind and they'll think twice about cheating.

So, how is a referee to know why a player dives or feigns injury? Should that apply to every over reaction that could lead to the "offender" being carded? Could Slattery have said "I only ever meant to get him yellow carded". As I said, this has opened a can of worms.

I honestly don't recall the assistant getting involved in the incident during the game, but if he told the ref it was a red card, that's just another official whose competence has to be questioned, along with the VAR team. Slattery was an idiot, and he's now been punished, but we all know there will be as much consistency applied to the issue of simulation as there is to every other issue in Scottish football.

The referee made the decision after advice from his assistant. Therefore they were both conned...by Slattery.... into issuing a red card. VAR did not intervene. Wrongly, so I agree questions need to be asked on that score. Had Slattery been found out there and then a yellow would have been sufficient given the St Mirren player would not have been sent off. But because of the actual outcome on the night a red card for Slattery is correct and in line with previous examples......pre VAR mostly I think. Trial by Sportscene springs to mind. At the end of the day, no matter who we like to point fingers at, Slattery cheated. As for the time taken to issue his ban, MFC were told within days that Slattery had been cited and if found at fault would be punished. It's not true to say that only some four weeks later the Authorities decided to act. It should have been resolved much quicker though.

A ridiculous decision, which opens up a mega sized can of worms. Others have made good points. So many angles to this. * How far back will the SFA go to look at retrospective action? 1 month perhaps 2 months or even 3? What is the benchmark? * Had Slattery rightly been disciplined at the time it would have been a yellow card. Why not a yellow card now? Thwe fact that he wasn't yellow carded was down to the referee. * Is this now a benchmark? Will we see a spate of retrospective punishments or is a 4 match ban now the norm for simulation? * A related issue - what about players harassing the ref to have an opponent red carded? We see plenty of that. I just hope MFC holds them to account.

I don’t have a problem with this as long as it’s consistent…… but every man and their dug knows it won’t be consistent. glad the club seem to be pointing this out and we should be calling for heads if it’s not applied.

But, is that what we want? SOD is a good squad player now, but at his age, has lost a bit of energy. Tom Sparrow is a decent midfielder but is never a full back.

Spot on bobby.

I’d bring in 2 new wingbacks . we need cover or an alternative on the left . for right id be thinking an upgrade on what we have . JK picks up lots of niggling injuries that keep him out and SOD simply doesn’t have the engine to get up the park . Sparrow for me isn’t a wing back and not sold he suits our set up , he was far more effective last season . these 2 positions together with CF are for me the weakest part of the team an area we’d be wise to invest in .

Id rather have Luca Ross at LB than Ewan Wilson. Decent lad, but he doesnt have what it takes for the top level or he would be smashing it out the park at Raith Rovers, and he isnt. Koutroumbis is a better RB than Sparrow and he is definitely a better LB. I get that he is the one out of contract and could be the makeweight to freshen up the squad, but you just need to look at what happened with injuries and suspensions this season to see tge value of versatile players.

Johnny K new contract everyday of the week i think we have missed him tbh the rest can leave with my blessing. We cant be carrying injury prone players from the Kettlewell era time to progress and add some value. Hendry is another I be looking at to send out on loan aswell really not done anything when he was on the pitch for me.

Can’t find his passport?

Think problem has been our expectation levels have just increased. Still only lost 5 out of 31 league games and despite being poor on Saturday we avoided defeat. We were always going to hit a sticky spell. A fortnight off gives JBA time to get players back on form COYW

I'd offer an extension to Johnny K., I think that he is good enough and has earned the right to stay (if he wants to). I really like Nicholson, decent footballer, great personality, but quite injury-prone. He's 50/50 for me. I had hoped to see Robinson get some games to see how he might fit in with JBA's style of playing, but, sadly, he may not get the opportunity to prove himself. The other free agents can leave with thanks, they've all played their part.

I feel with some saying other teams have sussed us out is very premature. What about us sussing other teams out as Hibs who are our nearest challengers were reduced to not able to do very much against us. With 2 weeks to prepare against a falkirk team that have been sussed out i am sure another victory will be provided. We are disappointed because we never got to previous levels but it is very small margins and if offside goal stands a totally different outcome.

I think Maswanhise will be sold. Welsh will go back to Celtic and be sold or put out on loan again. If we could get him back without breaking the bank great, but more likely we are looking at another player we can develop/sell on. Of those OOC. Gordon, Halliday, Robinson, Nicholson I would let go. Koutroumbis and Slattery Id offer new deals, albeit Slattery will probably move on. Just, Watt & Fadinger will all attract attention, so good to hear Jens say, they wont all be sold at the same time. I think there has probably been a conversation with JT assuring him that we wont step in his way in the summer. The rest will depend on the bids received. But we are undoubtedly in the driving seat. Particularly if we get a good fee for JT. Looking forward to a positive window with a net gain in cash and squad depth.