By STUART BATHGATE
Published on Friday 27 January 2012 00:45
HIBERNIAN manager Pat Fenlon has taken issue with the SFA’s disciplinary procedure, saying he believes it is an unfair “trial by television”.
Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths was given a two-match ban this week after being found guilty of making an offensive gesture during a match for the third time in two months. Fenlon said he was being driven “mad” by the player’s behaviour, but insisted that any punishment by the club would remain confidential.
“My straight answer to whether I am in favour of trial by television would certainly be a no,” Fenlon said yesterday. “I don’t feel it is fair, and the process at the moment is all one way. It has to work in favour of the players as well as against them. I personally think it’s an insult to referees. Let them referee the games.”
Griffiths was given his latest suspension as a result of a one-fingered gesture to supporters during his team’s 3-2 loss to St Johnstone last Saturday. His action went unnoticed by the referee but was caught on camera and highlighted by a TV presenter. The on-loan striker had earlier been punished for similar misdemeanours against Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Cup earlier this month and Rangers in the league on 10 December.
“It’s driving me mad at the moment, “ Fenlon added of the Griffiths situation. “It’s something I have to deal with, though, as there’s not much I can do about it.
“It’s difficult to be doing without big players like Garry O’Connor [also suspended for going over the points threshold] and Leigh for the game on Saturday. We have dealt with Leigh in house and the situation will remain in house.”
After the Cowdenbeath match Fenlon said that Griffiths had to learn his lesson or face losing his place in the team. Yesterday, though, he admitted he could not be confident that the 21-year-old would not re-offend.
“Well, it’s happened twice, so that answers that. He’s got to learn. He knows that himself. It’s as simple as that.”
Motherwell have also emerged as prominent critics of the SFA’s “fast track” system. Manager Stuart McCall, who warned earlier this week of “trial by Sportscene”, argued yesterday that striker Michael Higdon had been harshly treated after being given a one-match ban for a gesture made after scoring against Dundee United last Saturday.
“If the referee had seen it, he might have given a yellow card, but that would have been harsh,” McCall said. “To miss a game for a gesture in the middle of the park, nowhere near any fans, I find it difficult to accept.
“In fairness to the panel, they said it was certainly low-end offensive, but offensive all the same. That’s a matter of opinion. There’s no way it can be compared to things that have gone on previously. Yet Michael misses a game.
“I had a good chat with [SFA compliance officer] Vincent Lunny and he seems like a decent guy. He gets told of things from all kinds of sources – people writing in emails, other people seeing it on TV and so on.
“I’m not saying it’s trial by television. I’m just disappointed the ban has been upheld, because we felt that wasn’t the way to go.”
Last night Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster issued a statement criticising not only the verdict, but the process which led to it.
“We are extremely disappointed by all aspects of the process and, of course, the ban,” she said.
“We have material concerns about the approach, the informal communication around it and the obvious disproportionate nature of the suspension.”
COWDENBEATH have reacted angrily to reports that Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon was verbally abused during Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie between the sides, claiming it is a non-issue.
IF YOU were appointed manager of a football club who were fighting to avoid relegation, what would you expect from your playing staff? It’s obvious, really.
HIBERNIAN striker Leigh Griffiths has been offered a two-match ban by the Scottish Football Association’s compliance officer after television footage appeared to show him making a one-fingered gesture during his side’s 3-2 defeat to St Johnstone in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at the weekend.
LEIGH Griffiths has said sorry to the Hibs supporters for aiming a second offensive gesture at his own fans in as many weeks.
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