New protocol on way after ref protest
A NEW protocol aimed at guaranteeing referee co-operation with broadcasters is likely to emerge from the aftermath of Craig Thomson’s one-man protest against BT Sport.
But it’s understood there has been no attempt to make pundit Chris Sutton tone down his criticisms after his description of Thomson as a ‘bottler’ sparked the entire row.
Representatives from the SPFL’s broadcast partner met with SFA officials last week to discuss the FIFA ref’s refusal to liaise with BT staff at the live televised St Johnstone v Celtic game.
Irked by former Celtic striker Sutton’s verbal attack on his character after he failed to send off Rangers star Harry Forrester during a win over Dundee, Thomson broke with the normal practice of synchronising kick-off with a producer to fit in with broadcast schedules — and started the match at McDiarmid Park a minute early.
Sportsmail understands the SFA deliberately avoided seeking an apology for Sutton’s words, nor did they seek any promises about his future comments, although the subject of criticism considered to be ‘of a personal nature’ was raised as a general point of order during a meeting described as ‘cordial’ by one insider.
The most likely outcome now is that the SFA or SPFL will seek to introduce some kind of formal protocol recommending, rather than requiring, that referees liaise with broadcasters BT Sport and Sky Sports — who pay £15 million a year for live TV rights.
Meanwhile, Thomson again found himself at the centre of controversy on Saturday when Dundee United’s Cammy Smith accused him of guesswork after booking him for diving in the 2-2 home draw with Raith Rovers.
Although it’s understood United have since accepted Smith’s early appeal for a penalty wasn’t strong enough to be awarded, the player himself remains adamant that the ref was far from certain.
Revealing that he’d spoken directly to Thomson after watching a replay at halftime, Smith insisted: ‘I said to Craig that I had seen it at half-time, I had checked it — and I’m not a diver. I wouldn’t dive, especially when I’m through on goal. So I don’t know why I’d go down.
‘He said to me that he thought there was contact but not enough to give a pen. But it was a clear penalty.’