O’Connor found not guilty
By Graham Barnstaple
October 6 2011
Garry O’Connor’s two match ban for diving was rescinded today at an SFA Fast Track panel meeting.
A simple one line statement was released from the SFA tonight and it said, “The Fast Track Tribunal determined that the player was fouled and no simulation occurred.”
This came only four days after Hibs assistant manager said on Sportscene even he believed it was a dive and would expect him to be punished. Having watched it over and over again myself I can’t see any sign of contact which would constitute a “foul”.
The Fast Track Tribunal is made up of three independent people who have the responsibility of deciding what is going to happen, I think this time there is no doubt they got it wrong!
I also worry that they have now set the precedent and created a “divers” charter, it will now be hard to find anyone guilt of simulation in the coming months given this decision.
I am also astonished there is no detail about what the panel thought made the incident a foul!!
After the recent excusing of Stack of Hibs and now O’Connor there will no doubt be the normal paranoid claims of SFA bias against the Old Firm, particularly after Steven Naismith was given a two match ban by the same process. This was also another case that many thought wasn’t actually a clear cut case.
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Hibs management team agreed it was a dive -O'Connor himself says it wasnt a penalty (and to quote him -GOD will eventually judge him) unfortunately on this occasion it wasnt GOD who was on the "panel".
No one likes to see players being banned -but in this day and age when Mr Regan himself has questioned the actions of "divers" or "simulators" from countries involved in games against Scotland -this was a chance to show that the SFA would not stand for this type of alleged offence.
I guess this now opens the "door" for O'Connor to now be considered for a recall to the National side and dare I suggest that this might have been on the back of the minds of those who made the decision.
Why can we not see who made this decision-what have they to hide by remaining silent.
Funny how hundreds of football fans could see the dive -but 2 out of the 3 who "matter" didnt.