Source: Team_Talk
Mowbray calls for appeals reform
Mowbray has claimed the decision to turn down Brown's appeal against his red card in last week's Old Firm derby defeat was "political".[LNB]Hoops captain Brown was sent off for violent conduct by referee Dougie McDonald after what looked like a rather innocuous tangle with Rangers' Kyle Lafferty.[LNB]The Parkhead club lodged an appeal only hours after the 1-0 defeat - which left them 10 points behind their arch-rivals at the top of the SPL - but McDonald stood by his decision after looking at the incident again on video on Thursday.[LNB]Referee Craig Thomson admitted he had made a mistake in turning down a Celtic penalty claim in their 2-1 defeat at Ibrox earlier in the season and Steve Conroy controversially chalked off a Marc-Antoine Fortune goal in the 1-1 derby draw at Parkhead in January.[LNB]Celtic manager Mowbray, who revealed the club have had talks with the Scottish Football Association about the review system for red cards, claims those two games had a direct bearing on Brown's appeal being turned down.[LNB]"In the last two Old Firm games, there were two big decisions that didn't go our way," he said.[LNB]"We had an official come out and apologise for a wrong decision which I think should be applauded and probably was applauded at the time.[LNB]"There was a lot of controversy over the last game at Celtic Park over Fortune's goal.[LNB]"And then another Old Firm game comes along and another contentious decision which has a big effect on the game.[LNB]"Maybe another decision in a massive Old Firm game not to go Celtic's way would be just a little bit too much.[LNB]"If it had been upheld, it would have been proven to be a wrong decision, I think.[LNB]"So maybe the political decision was taken that maybe the right decision had been made."[LNB]Mowbray continued: "Other people at the club might have a stronger view on things but having watched it back in fine detail, I can't see a red card, I can't see violent conduct, I can't see a reason why an appeal isn't upheld.[LNB]"I sit here bewildered by it really but we have to abide by that and get on with it."[LNB]To add fuel to the fire, the editorial in Celtic's weekly publication simply said: "That's why we're paranoid" under a picture of Brown being sent off at Ibrox.[LNB]Mowbray claimed the SFA's appeals system was flawed but distanced himself from such sentiments, saying: "I don't want to get in to a conflict but I like to think I'm not a paranoid guy.[LNB]"I'd like to think I'm a balanced individual. I look at the reasons and at what went on. I look for fairness, basically.[LNB]"If I could see a grey area and think, 'I can half-see what the referee is thinking but I don't agree with it' then fine but having watched it, I can't come to that conclusion.[LNB]"It's not about me moaning about it, although it appears that I am, it's about getting to a system that works."[LNB]Mowbray, as animated as he had been since he took over from Gordon Strachan in the summer, denied reports Celtic expressed concerns to the Scottish Premier League about the state of Falkirk's pitch ahead of Sunday's game against the Bairns.[LNB]The former Hibernian and West Brom boss said: "Celtic have not ever voiced concerns about Falkirk's pitch - absolutely not.[LNB]"I have no concerns about it, I haven't seen it, apart from the Scotland Under-21 game on the television.[LNB]"I would look at your own industry (media) and I would suggest someone is being a little bit mischievous.[LNB]"One week, Celtic is having a little complaint or whatever it is, whichever route it came from, about officials; now they are complaining about the pitches.[LNB]"I can see it is building and it isn't right.[LNB]"I would imagine it is one individual within your industry that has thought, 'That's quite a good angle, we will write that, and just build on this paranoia'.[LNB]"We haven't complained about Falkirk's pitch.[LNB]"It isn't happening, it isn't there."[LNB][LNB] Celtic 4/11, Draw 10/3, Falkirk 7/1
