Every manager thinks their team is the hardest done by when it comes to refereeing decisions, VAR non-interventions, bad bounces, unlucky breaks, injuries … the weather. But there’s no denying that Hibs boss Nick Montgomery has some grounds for feeling aggrieved over the decisions that have gone against his side this season.
The guy has only been in Scotland since September, yet already he’s been driven to the brink of bafflement, frustration and outright fury by the standard of officiating. Both on the pitch and at VAR HQ, with its banks of screens and endless replays.
The SFA’s own VAR Independent Review Panel highlighting two recent errors in Key Match Incidents involving Hibs, both penalty decisions that should have been reviewed and overturned, is unlikely to put Monty in a better humour. His only contribution to the debate will probably be a grimace and a muttered: “Only two decisions? Yeah, OK …”
Having received an apology from the SFA over a handball non-call earlier in the season, Montgomery isn’t much interested in retrospective admissions of error. Nothing said now will lift his team into the top six of the Scottish Premiership, a prize they missed out on by a single point.
The Yorkshireman previously answered a question about bad decisions evening themselves out over the course of a season by admitting: “I think that’s something you want to believe. Like a fairy tale …” Here we take a look at just some of the incidents that have caused most annoyance to the Hibs gaffer in less than eight months as an SPFL manager:
5. Kenneth Vargas penalty
Hibs were leading 1-0 at Tynecastle when the Hearts player went down in the box. Despite ref Kevin Clancy getting the chance to review the footage again on the pitch-side monitor, he stuck with his original decision in the February 28 fixture which ended in a 1-1 draw. The independent panel now admit Clancy got it wrong. More than once. | SNS Group
6. Nectar soured by Souttar decision
Nick Montgomery was clearly displeased to see his team concede a penalty at Ibrox in their 3-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox on March 30, with Nectar Triantis adjudged to have fouled John Souttar with a flailing arm as he jumped for a high ball. Referee David Dickinson saw no foul, but VAR Andrew Dallas called for a second look – and a decision that left pundits baffled. Interestingly, this is NOT one of the mistakes cited in the latest review. | SNS Group
7. Emi Marcondes clobbered
The Hibs playmaker was cleaned out by St Johnstone goalie Dimitar Mitov with the game, the penultimate fixture before the Scottish Premiership split, still goalless. Referee Grant Irvine waved aside penalty claims. St Johnstone ran out 2-1 winners, leaving Hibs scrambling for a spot in the top six. | SNS Group