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Alan Thompson bemoans "inconsistency from the referee"

Thompson bemoans
© PA Photos
Celtic's assistant manager Alan Thompson criticises the performance of the referee during this afternoon's Scottish Cup semi-final.

Celtic's assistant manager Alan Thompson has been highly critical of the performance that referee Euan Norris put in during today's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hearts.

The Bhoys lost the match 2-1 thanks to a late Craig Beattie penalty that had been given for handball against Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley.

Norris also went on to deny Celtic a penalty for a similar offence against Andy Webster deep into stoppage time.

"It's inconsistency from the referee," Thompson told Sky Sports News. "If one's a penalty, the other one's a penalty. Initially we don't think the Hearts one is a penalty. It's come off Joe Ledley's foot and come up to his hand. He's so close to the ball he can't get out of the way.

"If he does give the penalty, we would like to think that the Webster one just after that is also a penalty. There is an inconsistency in how the referee sees it."

Celtic's defeat has cost them the chance of securing a domestic double.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic2118215775056
2RangersRangers20124437162140
3Dundee UnitedDundee Utd229763024634
4Aberdeen2110473230234
5Motherwell229492734-731
6St Mirren2283112737-1027
7Hibernian226883135-426
8Dundee2174103337-425
9Kilmarnock2367102537-1225
10Ross County226792238-1625
11Hearts2265112531-623
12St Johnstone2243152444-2015


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