Source: Team_Talk
McDonald backed over penalty U-turn
The Scottish Football Association have backed Dougie McDonald over his penalty U-turn during Celtic's 2-1 victory over Dundee United on Sunday.[LNB] With the scores tied at Tannadice, McDonald pointed to the spot when United goalkeeper Dusan Pernis challenged Gary Hooper, only to order a drop-ball following talks with assistant Steven Craven.[LNB]Television pictures appeared to back the linesman's decision as Pernis touched the ball, but McDonald came in for fierce criticism after the match from both managers.[LNB]That prompted the SFA's head of referees development, Hugh Dallas, to defend experienced official McDonald.[LNB]Dallas said: "I think the main thing is that the final decision that was taken was correct.[LNB]"And the referee is well within his rights to change his mind as long as he has not restarted play.[LNB]"Dougie, after having given the decision, then received information from the assistant referee that the goalkeeper had played the ball.[LNB]"There is a really good replay of the incident from the offside-line camera, which clearly shows the ball changing direction - and that was something that Dougie did not enjoy at the time.[LNB]"So the decision was overturned and it's not the first time that has happened this season. It's already happened down at Kilmarnock, where the assistant referee and fourth official overturned a penalty decision."[LNB]United boss Peter Houston accused McDonald of being "very inconsistent" after the game and claimed the referee was quick to give penalties against his team.[LNB]But Dallas said: "We criticise match officials when they get things wrong and here we are criticising them when they get things right."[LNB]Hooper went on to snatch a late winner but Celtic manager Neil Lennon claimed the situation was "unacceptable" after speaking to McDonald during the game and seeing a replay of the incident after the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match.[LNB]However, Dallas claimed that Lennon had changed his opinion after further discussion.[LNB]"Neil Lennon took the time to go to the referee's dressing-room about 40 minutes after the match was concluded," the former World Cup referee said.[LNB]"They had a discussion and Neil accepted that the decision was correct. It was just unusual.[LNB]"I think Neil was extremely frustrated that he did not have the opportunity to get an explanation at that time, which is not possible.[LNB]"He received a full explanation, which he found acceptable, after the match."[LNB]Meanwhile, Dallas has hailed the appointment of 31-year-old Willie Collum to referee Sunday's Old Firm derby as proof of a positive future for the country's match officials.[LNB]"I think the younger referees are now coming through to the top level and we see a young referee taking charge of the first Old Firm game of the season," Dallas said.[LNB]"It's his first Old Firm game on Sunday and that is a young referee who only seven or eight years ago was operating within the youth academy, so it augurs well for the future."
