Mowbray sticking to guns on refs

CELTIC boss Tony Mowbray refused to back down yesterday in the war of words over the integrity of SPL referees.

After his side’s victory at Falkirk, Mowbray returned to the row over referee Dougie McDonald and his handling of last weekend’s Old Firm game.

Mowbray played down the significance of Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady’s claim that McDonald had not been “impartial” during the derby at Ibrox.

In that match, Hoops’ captain Scott Brown was controversially sent off after tangling with Rangers’ Kyle Lafferty. Maurice Edu scored a last-gasp winner for the home side as Lafferty went unpunished.

Before the game an unknown source at Celtic had let it be known that the Parkhead club were not happy with decisions they believed had gone against them this season, including in the first two games against Rangers.

McGeady’s remarks, though, could see him hauled up before the Scottish FA but Mowbray moved to defuse the situation.

“I haven’t seen that article,” said Mowbray. “If a journalist used the word ‘impartial’ I’m pretty sure he (Aiden) didn’t know what it meant.

“I am wary talking about it. I can see the headline ‘Mowbray says McGeady is ignorant’ and I am not saying that.

“If it was a clever journalist speaking about impartiality, he might not have got the context of the question, I don’t know.

“But I would be surprised if Aiden came out and criticised the officials or their imp-artiality, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t.”