Source: Team_Talk
Smith happy with appeals procedure
The current system sees match officials review incidents again and, if they concede they originally called it wrong, the appeal is then reviewed by an independent panel.[LNB]If the referee maintains he was right the matter is closed, as was the case with Celtic captain Scott Brown.[LNB]Brown lost his appeal against the red card he picked up in Sunday's Old Firm derby when Dougie McDonald opted to stand by his original decision, prompting a furious response from Celtic.[LNB]"That's the way it is, with the referee having the final decision after looking at it again," said Smith.[LNB]"We had the same thing with Kenny Miller after he got sent off against Dundee United earlier in the season.[LNB]"I do think, if a referee goes in and has a look at it and is honest enough about it, that's sufficient.[LNB]"I don't think there is any great need for a change. I don't think a referee will be frightened to change his mind if he sees that he's wrong."[LNB]Meanwhile, Smith has reiterated his desire to see players take more responsibility for their actions off the pitch as Allan McGregor continues to dominate the front pages.[LNB]The goalkeeper hit the headlines again this week when his fiancee was arrested for wasting police time and an investigation into an alleged assault on the player was dropped.[LNB]Smith accepts that public figures are subject to more exposure now than ever before but insists footballers must deal with their high profile in the right manner.[LNB]"Footballers have got to react to that, that's the situation," he said. "They have that aspect of their life to look after as well and that's a responsibility every player has to take.[LNB]"That's just the way it is and there is no use complaining about it.[LNB]"They all know the unwritten rules, as well as the written ones, and the unwritten ones are ones they have to follow as well.[LNB]"They all know what they should be doing and what they shouldn't be doing.[LNB]"It's up to them to try and figure out which is which. Some of them struggle."[LNB]Smith denied that inflated salaries were the root of the problem.[LNB]"I don't think that's the case," he said. "They are doing what other lads their age do. Maybe the amount of money allows them to do it more often.[LNB]"But they have a profile and they have to be very careful or they end up in front of TV cameras."[LNB]However, Smith admits he can have no complaints about McGregor's contribution on the pitch after another fine performance in Sunday's Old Firm clash.[LNB]He said: "It's not just the Celtic game, he has played extremely well for us all season.[LNB]"Our defensive record has been good and he has been a big part of that.[LNB]"You don't go through games without asking your goalie to make saves at important times and he has managed to do that. He has been terrific for us over the season."[LNB]Rangers face St Mirren for the fifth time so far this season in the SPL and Smith said: "I don't think the game will be very much different from the ones we have had in recent weeks."[LNB][LNB] Rangers 1/6, Draw 5/1, St Mirren 14/1
