O'Neill's Revisionism

Last updated : 24 December 2003 By Bearwood Bear

If you look at the replay (I saw it eight times on Sky Sports along with Alan Shearer, Charlie Nicholas and Graeme Souness who all agreed it was a pen) you see every Lyon player in or around the Celtic area put their hand up for the decision. No Celtic player protested at the award, apart from Lennon.

"This is a massive game, it's the Champions League, and you really have to be right with that kind of decision."

The referee was correct; Balde was unusually slow to mark up and had his arm raised well above shoulder level in an attempt to make himself as big a barrier as he could, which makes it deliberate. A header going towards the goal which Hedman would have saved easily was deflected by Baldes arm and the referee saw it.

"I have seen the incident exactly the same way as the Lyon players saw it, as a goal kick."

As has been shown above, a gross distortion of the truth.

"It's so reminiscent of the incident in Turin two years ago and it's very, very disappointing."

So the only dodgy penalties worth discussing are ones given against Celtic? Perhaps O'Neill forgot about the penalty Celtic 'earned' in Turin?

Take your medicine Martin, if you and your players weren't unsporting, cheating hypocrites we could almost feel sorry for you.

BEARWOOD