Former SFA chief Gordon Smith wants video evidence introduced

Gordon Smith has called for the introduction of TV evidence as the fall-out from Celtic's Scottish Cup exit rumbles on.

The Hoops were denied a penalty when Inverness defender Josh Meekings clearly handled Leigh Griffiths' goal-bound header on the line towards the end of the first half of Sunday's semi-final at Hampden.

Inverness went on to win 3-2 after extra time and secure their first Scottish Cup final berth but the main talking point after the tie was how referee Steven McLean and his assistants could miss such a blatant handball.

Celtic have asked the Scottish Football Association to explain the actions of the referee and his team but Smith is convinced such controversies would be consigned to history if technology was made available to match officials.

I think at the highest level they should be able to challenge a decision and look at the TV evidence immediately and make a decision on it.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Smith, the SFA chief executive between 2007-2010, said: "I propose that we should have two challenges per game from the technical area to look at mistakes. 

"I think at the highest level they should be able to challenge a decision and look at the TV evidence immediately and make a decision on it.

'Evidence'

"It is so vital in terms of what is at stake for players, teams and even financially that I feel at that level they should be looking at the evidence." 

But former Celtic striker Chris Sutton struggled to find any sympathy for the officials claiming the decision not to award a penalty, and a subsequent red card to Meekings, was 'horrific'.

"I always wonder about these officials behind the goal, whether they get the nice uniform on to go and think 'well we're never going to have to make a decision'," he said.

I think it's a fairly straightforward situation. It's an error that the official and his co-officials made and everyone just has to get on with it.

"Just do your job. For him to miss that was crucial and someone has to be held accountable. It was just horrific."  

However, ex-Rangers manager Walter Smith was firmly in the 'even themselves out over the season' camp, while questioning the value of Celtic demanding clarification from the governing body.

"Sometimes the decisions go for you and sometimes they go against you," said Smith, who had two spells in charge of the Championship play-off contenders.

"If you are going to complain about the ones that go against you, are you going to hold your hands up about the ones that go for you?

'Frustrated'

"I think it's a fairly straightforward situation. It's an error that the official and his co-officials made and everyone just has to get on with it."

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Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs, whose side lost out to Falkirk in the other semi-final last Saturday, has sympathy with match officials, claiming they are in a 'no-win situation'.

"As managers we get frustrated but if we were in the middle we'd get them (decisions) wrong too so it's a no-win situation for them," he said.

"I know Steven will be bitterly disappointed that he hasn't seen that. He is that type of guy and he'll be disappointed his officials never seen it either.

"Obviously Celtic have every right to ask for an explanation but where it's going to get them I don't know." 

The quartet were speaking at the John Hartson Golf Foundation Day at Mar Hall Golf Club in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.