Gary Mackay: Unfortunate Craven made a scapegoat

I WOULD just like to say that I have massive sympathy for the way that linesman Steven Craven has been hung out to dry by the SFA.

He looks to have been the victim of politics and it's a crying shame that he's been forced out of the game over something that doesn't look to have been his fault.

And, while we're on the subject of officialdom, I have to say that I don't buy this talk about Celtic being the victim of a conspiracy.

They may have been on the end of some ropey decisions, but show me a club in Scotland that couldn't reel off a whole list of injustices they've suffered in matches against the Old Firm. I seem to recall in January 2006 Hearts had Takis Fyssas wrongly sent off at a pivotal time in a game against Celtic when both sides were going for the title. I don't suppose Celtic will be as keen to bring that incident up.

Sometimes when things go against you, you're better just to accept it even though it might be a bitter pill to swallow at the time.