Yogi: You're taking the p***

Apr 27 2008 By Michael Baillie

FED-UP John Hughes took another angry swipe at the SFA over referees - and accused the beaks of taking the p*** out of Falkirk.

Yogi has already told of his frustration at Bairns seemingly being handed a string of rookie whistlers. But his frustration boiled over after his 10-man team went down to St Mirren following a sickening late Andy Dorman goal.

Hughes was annoyed with the appointment of inexperienced official Scott MacDonald - and that was before the ref dished out a dubious straight red card to Arnau Riera.

Riera walked for clattering into Dorman as they jumped for a ball and Hughes was bemused with the call. However, his anger was not directed at MacDonald - who was in charge of only his sixth game of the season - but at SFA referee supremos Donald McVicar and Hugh Dallas.

Yogi said: "I'm not having a go at the referee, I'm having a go at the system, at McVicar and Dallas who put the guys out there.

"We're in a league of 12. We have worked hard to get here and should have the same rights as the others. But why are we lumbered with rookie referees week in, week out?

"Are we getting used as a learning tool? He has had five games all season and is thrown in at the deep end.

"The ref did okay, he got one or two decisions wrong including the red card.

"But McVicar and Dallas are taking the p***.

Are we not under the same banner as everyone else in the league?

"If that referee is good enough to be in the SPL he should be good enough for any game in the SPL."

Buddies manager Gus MacPherson backed Hughes' view over the sending off. He said: "I didn't think it was a red card. He went up for a challenge and just miss-timed it."

MATCH STATS

6 SHOTS ON 3

6 SHOTS OFF 5

3 OFFSIDE 2

14 FOULS 12

3 CORNERS 1

5 BOOKINGS 0