Ladbrokes Scottish Premiereship – Hibernian v Celtic. Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. 28/09/2019. Pic shows: Hibs’ Manager, Paul Heckingbottom, argues with the 4th official as Hibs play host to Celtic at Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh. Credit: Ian Jacobs

Paul Heckingbottom insisted last night that everyone at the club had been let down by refereeing decisions from Kevin Clancy in Hibs 1-1 draw with champions Celtic.

Hibs took an early lead after Kristofer Ajer deflected a Christian Doidge cross into his own net before Celtic equalised in controversial circumstances.

Tom James won the ball in midfield from James Forrest. Clancy saw the challenge and allowed play to go on and Hibs mounted an attack.

Forrest remained on the ground and was holding his head so the referee quite rightly stopped play however when it became apparent that it was an ankle injury, the Hibs fans let both know their feelings on the decision.

With everyone inside the stadium waiting on a drop ball, Clancy instead awarded a free-kick to Celtic having taken advice from fourth official Nick Walsh.

In the confusion, Celtic took a quick free-kick which led to the equaliser from Ryan Christie sparking fury from the Hibs’ fans.

Heckingbottom showed his frustration by kicking a water bottle and confronting Nick Walsh which resulted in him being shown a red card.

This increased the volume of abuse from the fans and at half-time the stadium erupted in a crescendo of booing aimed at the referee as he left the pitch.

In the second half Clancy denied Celtic two possible penalties but that didn’t calm the Hibs boss down.

After the game Heckingbottom said: “Listen refs have bad games, make bad decisions, and you know I don’t come up here and moan about that.

“Literally phase of play, good press, we win the ball, break then five seconds later it is called back for something the fourth official has seen. Then that is not transmitted to the players.

“Some of them think it is a drop ball and they’re getting the ball back or something.

“Others understand it is a free kick so it was a shambles. A farce, that bit of play.

On the Ntcham incident, Heckingbottom said: “He should have been sent off three times. For the three punches. That is the worst one and that is the biggest injustice.

“Refs get things wrong and we should have dealt with it after he gave the free kick, but that, everybody has been let down by that, everyone.

“All the supporters, all the players, everyone connected with the club.

“Listen, there is an incident, a couple of arms thrown. He can claim he hasn’t seen it. Fine.

“But the fact he is actually stood right there between the two players when the third one comes in on the end of Vela’s chin so you tell me why it isn’t a sending off?

“Everyone can see it, everyone. I am up the back of the stand in the top row and I can see it. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone has bad games but there was something different about that. That wasn’t right.

“The red card was for confronting the fourth official because it was him who gave that goal. There was a swear word in there.”

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.