Jim Jefferies has apologised to Francis Andrews after accepting the linesman was right to ignore appeals for offside in the lead-up to Celtic's first goal in Hearts' 3-0 defeat at Parkhead on Saturday.
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 that referee Willie Collum immediately sent him to the stand. After the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match, Jefferies claimed he had been told that television pictures had confirmed his belief that Murphy was "clearly offside". 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.
However, BBC television pictures have subsequently shown Murphy to have been played onside by Hearts full-back Darren Barr. Jefferies said: "At the angle I was at, he looked offside. We don't have monitors down at the dugout and everyone in our dugout thought he was offside."
He added: "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.
"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.
"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."
While the SPL were still awaiting the report from their delegate Connolly, Collum's report was due to be considered by the SFA on Monday, 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.
Source: PA
