Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies makes apology
Jim Jefferies has apologised to Francis Andrews after accepting the linesman was right to ignore appeals for offside at Parkhead on Saturday.[LNB] The Hearts boss was so furious at Andrews' decision to allow Daryl Murphy to run through on goal before setting up James Forrest for the first-half opener in the 3-0 defeat, that referee Willie Collum immediately sent him to the stand.[LNB]After the match, Jefferies claimed he had been told that television pictures had confirmed his belief that Murphy was "clearly offside".[LNB]The former Kilmarnock manager also claimed the visitors had been denied a penalty in the second half with the score at 2-0 when Celtic defender Emilio Izaguirre clashed with David Templeton on the edge of the box.[LNB]Jefferies revealed he had reported Collum to the SPL delegate John Connolly for speaking to him like a "two-year-old" at the interval after Jefferies had asked for an apology.[LNB]However, BBC television pictures have subsequently shown Murphy to have been played onside by Hearts full-back Darren Barr.[LNB]While Jefferies will release a statement on Hearts' website later this afternoon, he told Press Association Sport: "At the angle I was at, he looked offside.[LNB]"We don't have monitors down at the dugout and everyone in our dugout thought he was offside.[LNB]"It was then relayed to me that some pictures showed he was offside but I have seen other footage and it shows he was marginally onside, and I accept that.[LNB]"I can't take back what I said, I can only apologise and I spoke to Hugh Dallas (head of referee development at the SFA) and asked him to apologise to Francis Andrews on my behalf, as I don't have his number.[LNB]"But I never criticised the performance of Willie Collum, I just said that I would be reporting him for the way he spoke to me."[LNB]While the SPL were still awaiting the report from their delegate Connolly, Collum's report was due to be considered by the SFA today, with suggestions that Jefferies could face a dugout ban and a charge of bringing the game into disrepute for reportedly using foul and abusive language towards Collum.[LNB]
