Ivan Sproule hits out at referee mistakes

The Hibs winger is likely to have landed himself in trouble for his comments, although he clearly wants to take Craig Thomson, the referee in question, down with him.

Sproule believes Thomson should be demoted to the First Division after he awarded a penalty in the 57th minute of yesterday’s match at Pittodrie, after Aberdeen substitute Peter Pawlett had tumbled to the ground following a challenge by Sproule. Scott Vernon converted the award and though Pawlett was later sent off for a late tackle on Lewis Stevenson – which Sproule reckoned was in order to “even-up” the quota of unfair decisions – Aberdeen held on to the points.

“I think he made the sending off [decision] because of the penalty,” said Sproule. “I don’t think it was a red card.” Neither did he think it was a penalty and the player was fuming after being made to take the blame for Hibs’ latest defeat. He called for referees to be called to account for their mistakes, just as players are. Sproule referenced team-mate Leigh Griffiths’ one-match suspension after being found guilty of making an offensive gesture to Rangers fans last weekend.

“Players get punished for their actions,” Sproule said. “I think a referee has to be put down to the First Division for a week or two because today was nothing short of a shambles.” He described Thomson’s refereeing performance as “the worst I have seen for a long time”.

Sproule argued that he won the ball cleanly from Pawlett and accused Thomson of being too willing to give a penalty.

“It was a clean tackle,” he said. “I was too quick for him. As soon as there was any sort of contact he [Thomson] had his whistle in his mouth and he was looking to give it.

“It was a ridiculous decision and puts us in even more bother in the league,” he added.