Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon slammed referee Kevin Clancy’s decision to award a penalty kick for Kilmarnock this afternoon and bemoaned the standard of officials in Scotland.
Hibs threw away a two goal lead and allowed Kilmarnock to grab a share of the points following a thrilling 90 minutes, but although the hosts dominated possession and chances, both their goals were controversial.
The first came from a short corner which was wrongly awarded although Jordan Jones’ strike was sensational. The second came from a penalty after Alan Power’s wayward shot struck Ryan Porteous on the elbow. That decision infuriated Lennon who was sent to the stand by Kevin Clancy.
The Northern Irishman believes that the ‘amateur’ refereeing in the country could damage Hibs’ European prospects this season and insists that managers should be able to send off the officials for poor performances.
Earlier this season, officials failed to spot that Oli Shaw’s shot at Tynecastle had crossed the line, costing the team two points.
Lennon also claimed that Kilmarnock’s artificial pitch made it impossible to play football and certainly several of his players had difficulty keeping their feet.
After the game he told BBC Sportsound:”It’s not a penalty. It’s the same referee (Kevin Clancy) who missed a clear handball for us against Rangers. I think he’s guessed because it’s hit Ryan (Porteous) on the elbow and the ball is going a mile wide.
“We should be able to send referees off for their performances, instead of managers. We’re just trying to do our jobs.
“A scandalous decision but one that doesn’t surprised me. I’m probably looking at a ban and that’s down to incompetence and guess work. I’m at my wits end. It’s amateur stuff.
“I’m not happy with the standard of refereeing this season. It’s cost us a lot of points. That could cost us a European place. It could cost us a lot of money.
“I’m glad we got something out of the game because it would sound like sour grapes, but it’s impossible to play football on that pitch. Players are falling over, the ball bounces in an awkward way, it’s dry, they don’t water it.
“Stevie (Clarke) must have been watching a different game to me. Kilmarnock certainly didn’t dominate the the first half. We could have been 4-0 up at half-time. We let them back into it by not putting them away.
“But the warning signs were there because Kilmarnock came on strong at the end of the first half.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
