Peter Houston charged over Rangers referee comments

Referee John McKendrick talks to Falkirk boss Peter Houston. Picture: Michael Gillen

FALKIRK manager Peter Houston has been hit with a Scottish Football Association charge over his criticism of referee John McKendrick following his side’s defeat by Rangers.

Houston has been accused of criticising the “decisions and performance of the match officials in such a way as to indicate bias and incompetence on their part, and which also impinged upon their character”.

Houston has been asked for his comments but one of his backroom staff, coach Alan Maybury, has accepted a one-match ban for his complaints at Ibrox on Saturday.

The former Hearts and Hibernian defender admitted using “offensive, abusing and insulting language” towards the referee following Falkirk’s 3-1 loss to the Championship leaders.

Houston was handed his notice of complaint for comments made during an interview with Falkirk’s own online television station.

The former Dundee United boss hit out at the free-kick decision which led to Rangers’ second goal in the 81st minute following Tom Taiwo’s tackle on Nicky Law, branding it “the poorest decision I’ve seen for years”.

A “raging” Houston also felt Danny Wilson should have received a card for an early challenge on Craig Sibbald.

“If that had been a Falkirk player, I’m convinced our player would have been booked,” he added. And he claimed the referee was influenced by half-time complaints from the Rangers backroom staff.

“They were giving him a hard time, telling him they had nothing from the game, that the referee gave them nothing,” he said.

“I think it influenced him. He gave them something that he shouldn’t have given them.”

Houston has until next Tuesday to respond with a hearing date pencilled in for 29 October.