Bobby Madden has unconvincingly addressed two of his most infamous decisions on Glasgow Derbies during his career.
The ex-referee, who became one of the most well-known on the Scottish circuit during his 20-year career, has since become an outspoken media figure.
Madden officiated nine Glasgow Derbies in his time as a ref, of which Celtic won five. Two of his most significant derby calls came in 2017 and 2019.
One involved Leigh Griffiths and Clint Hill, and the other Scott Brown and Ryan Kent.
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Bobby Madden on Leigh Griffiths and Scott Brown calls
In March 2017, Celtic were denied a last-gasp penalty after Hill took a risky lunge at Griffiths in the box with the score at 1-1.
Griffiths and the Parkhead crowd were adamant that it was a penalty, but Madden has recalled on the Let Me Be Frank Podcast: “I actually played an advantage at the edge of the penalty area, and you’re waiting for Leigh to get his shot away.
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“It never comes, and Clint Hill comes in and, for me, he gets a touch on the ball – and for me, that’s enough.
“I’m not going to give a penalty when there’s a touch on the ball. That was how I liked to referee. People might say there was contact with the attacker first. I’m not going to get involved with that.
“I tried to explain to Leigh after it and rhetorically saying, ‘Did he touch the ball?’. Then Leigh goes to Brendan Rodgers and says, ‘He’s even asking me if he touched the ball.’
“But I’m saying, ‘No, I’m telling you he’s touched the ball. That’s why I’m not giving it.'”
Very convenient for Madden to omit the widespread observation that Hill made contact with Griffiths first, thus making it a penalty under the laws of the game.
Two years later, Kent avoided a red card despite throwing a punch at Brown’s face after James Forrest’s late winner.
Madden said: “That was after a goal. I think Scott Brown knocks the ball away and Kent pushes him and lashes out. That was Scott getting a reaction.
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“I was on my way over to talk to Neil Lennon at the time and then was happening. This is where VAR helps because it picks up these missed incidents.
“There’s so much going on in these high-profile matches it’s impossible to see everything. You talk about that Ryan Kent example, it’s off the ball.
“It’s in the centre circle. There’s no way you’re going to see it. But don’t get me wrong, you’ll get some lunatic on social media who will say, ‘Oh, there he’s running up the pitch looking at it from 60 yards looking through 17 bodies.'”
There’s nothing wrong with missing the incident… but to describe it as a “push” is remarkable from Madden.
When these are your most senior officials, what chance have you got…
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