Drinkell: Refs are only human

25 October 2010 17:14

Kevin Drinkell insists the players - rather than the referees - should be making the headlines after the match official found himself under the spotlight following Sunday's Old Firm derby.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon hit out at Willie Collum for awarding Rangers a dubious penalty during the clash at Parkhead, a week after criticising a decision to rescind a spot-kick for his team against Dundee United.

Drinkell said: "Sometimes things get blown out of all proportion but generally we all like it if it's the players who decide the result rather than anybody from the outside."

The Hoops boss also claimed Lee McCulloch should have been sent-off in a match his side lost 3-1, as the Scottish champions moved three points clear at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Drinkell admits Lennon may have been right over the penalty call, awarded after Kirk Broadfoot went to ground under minimal contact from Daniel Majstorovic.

But the former Rangers striker pointed out that referees are only human and the best way to eradicate such incidents is the introduction of video technology.

He added: "The unfortunate thing about it is that the technology could be there to pinpoint and isolate different incidents during a game - the referee can only make a decision on what he sees.

"The result says that, if Rangers hadn't got the penalty, they would still have won 2-1.

"But it can change the psyche of players, once the goal went in Celtic would maybe have found it too much to come back from.

"In terms of the penalty itself, it was a bit harsh in that he has maybe made a decision when he's not seen the whole part of the incident."

Source: PA