SPL: O’Neill wants refs to have second look

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill believes referees should be given the chance to re-examine controversial decisions they have made during a game.

Hoops defender Bobo Balde has already experienced retrospective punishment after television evidence showed he was guilty of elbowing Hibs player Paul Fenwick.

O’Neill is not opposed to controversial incidents being scrutinised afterwards by a panel.

But he believes the official who made the decision in the first place should be given the opportunity to have a second look at the original incident.

He said: ‘‘The referees were saying themselves here that no-one seems to ask them their opinion again.

‘‘What they did in England about an incident that has been called into question is that they will ask the referee would he have a look at it again and see what his opinion is.

‘‘If the referee decides not to change it, the panel generally agree with it.’’

Television footage showed Ayr United captain John Hughes appearing to strike Rangers winger Neil McCann in the face during Sunday’s CIS Insurance Cup final.

The incident was missed by referee Hugh Dallas, meaning Hughes is free to play Celtic in Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.

But O’Neill insists he cannot comment until he has the chance to watch the footage for himself.

He added: ‘‘I’ve got the game to view because we have Ayr so I won’t go into any specific incident.

‘‘But I think it’s a point that people want to clear up. Is it something that needs highlighting on television before people see it, or is there a case for someone sitting down and viewing every single game?

‘‘The more cameras you have at a game, the more chance there is of picking up on something.’’

Celtic youngster Stephen Crainey has received a boost ahead of tonight’s game against Motherwell by being called up to the Scotland squad to face France in a friendly next week.

Fellow Hoops first-team hopeful Jamie Smith feels no resentment towards Crainey or Shaun Maloney, who has also made an impact for Celtic this season despite making just a handful of appearances himself.

Smith said: ‘‘All the involvement that Shaun and Stephen have had this season has been thoroughly deserved.

‘‘I would never have any hard feelings against any of them - especially as the three of us are really close.

‘‘What they have done has been entirely deserved. I knew myself that even when things weren’t going well, if I put my head down and worked hard things would start to happen again and luckily they have.’’