Gordon Strachan has hit out at the booking that Artur Boruc received at Easter Road yesterday. Boruc, who was abused throughout the match with references to him being a "wanker" waved to fans on all sides of the stadium as he left the pitch. Ironically he even offered a 'regal' wave to some of the Hibs fans.
Strachan was defensive, stating that Artur was waving only to the away support. "When teams beat us they go around the stadium clapping and it's like a day of national rejoicing," he said.
"Massimo Donati clapped everybody in the stadium when he was taken off and nothing happened to him. What's the difference? Give us the rules.
"If you're not allowed wave at the fans in the stadium then tell us. It seems to be different for us. When Scott McDonald scored the winner against Gretna he looked to be five metres from the fans when he was booked for celebrating.
"I've seen recently people going into the crowd and not getting booked. Tell us the rules and I'll tell my players what they can and cannot do. Tell us you can't clap the fans in the stands and we won't do it."
Club Captain Stephen McManus had this to say, "It was a wee bit harsh," he said of the booking. "When Inverness Caley Thistle beat us there was a lap of honour and I didn't see 11 of their players being booked. Refs can be fickle. It's not as if Artur caused a full scale riot.
"A bit of commonsense (from officials] is required at times. I know people will be having their say on this now but if the ref just had a quiet word with him and got him off the pitch it would have been better."
This is an issue that really should be addressed, last season Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was sent off for a second yellow card that was awarded to him after he went to the fans in Inverness (the MIB that day was Brines also) last week want away Rangers player Daniel Cousin ran into the fans to celebrate and received no caution from the referee!
One wonders how Brines manages to choose who to charge in his 'day' job as a Police Constable? It is not as easy to figure out whether or not a person is a 'pesky tim' when they aren't wearing colours isn't if Iain?
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt