Stephen McManus scores handball goal for Celtic against Falkirk

It is the third week of the 2008/2009 Scottish Premier League season and for the third week controversial decisions have favoured Celtic. This time in their game against Falkirk when Stephen McManus opened the scoring with a goal from a handball. From the Times
And you can add to this the fact that Celtic’s opener from Stephen McManus wasn’t just the result of a dubious free kick awarded against Falkirk, but was actually palmed into the net by McManus, who later admitted to his crime.

See below for a gif of Stephen McManus scoring with the handball.



Michael Higdon the Falkirk striker was scathing in his remarks after the match, stating in The Herald "The referees do bottle it because they keep making the same mistakes all the time." He cited Charlie Richardson's refusal to give a penalty against Celtic at Tannadice last week and said that Brines, who stopped play before Zander Diamond scored against the champions late last season, was "obviously a Celtic fan".

He continued his criticism in the The Daily Record This referee must be a Celtic fan. I was marking Stephen McManus on the free-kick so it is more frustrating for me that he scored. It was a clear hand-ball. I even asked McManus after it and he admitted he handled the ball into the net.The referee didn't give us a foul but it was so obvious. McManus just ran in front of a crowd of players and scooped it in with his hand. I couldn't believe it. I could have knocked the referee out to be honest. It was a double whammy for us as it was never a free-kick that led to the goal.The ref gave the free-kick then didn't disallow the goal. I just can't believe it.

The decision to give the free kick can be seen below



This is not the first time Falkirk have suffered due to controversial decisions in games against Celtic - It is their third consecutive league game where there has been controversy, more details here and here. John Hughes was to refer to this and the games Celtic had against St Mirren and Dundee United, when dubious decision impacted on the match result, in comments made on the BBC website.

I wonder if it's maybe pre-meditated, or maybe it's just me, wee Gus and Craig Levein. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid.


Date: 23 August 2008

Referee: Ian Brines

A controversial winner for Celtic against Falkirk

Celtics 0-1 win at Falkirk on the 27th January 2008, when Scott McDonald scored from an offside winner.

As the screen capture above shows, linesman Brian McGarry can be seen in line with McDonald and the six yard box as Nakamura puts the ball over, with McDonald and another Celtic players clearly offside.

In the same match, which Falkirk dominated for the entire 90mins, Falkirk were denied 3 penalties of which 2 were stonewallers. McManus also escaped punishment completely, after breaking the leg of Dean Holden in a reckless and aggressive challenge.

From the BBC match report

Scott McDonald's goal gave Celtic a fortunate and controversial win over Falkirk that narrows the gap on SPL leaders Rangers to four points.

The home side had two strong claims for a penalty turned down.

...

lucky not to have McDonald's headed 45th-minute goal ruled offside.

...

[Falkirk] had claims for a penalty denied by referee John Underhill when a Holden cross struck the hand of Gary Caldwell.

...

[Falkirk] again had strong claims for a penalty denied when McBride was challenged from behind by Massimo Donati after 72 minutes.

Date: Sunday 27 January 2008

Referee: John Underhill.

Assistant for offside decision: Brian McGarry.

Falkirk denied stonewall penalty against Celtic

In the Falkirk v Celtic game on Tuesday 11 December 2007, Falkirk get denied a stonewall penalty. From the BBC report.
But the Bairns boss wondered what might have been had referee Dougie McDonald ruled Ryan Conroy had handled a Gerard Aafjes header on the line."I need to see it on the television," Hughes said. "But from what I have been told it was a stonewall handball and that really changes the game."

The game was delicately balanced at 1-0 when Aafjes header appeared to strike Conroy's right arm on the line preventing a certain Falkirk equaliser.


Date: Tuesday 11 December 2007

Referee: Dougie McDonald