SCHALK: I AM SORRY
From Back Page furore in front of a live tv audience, tricked ref Don Robertson with Celtic’s Erik Sviatchenko shown to have made no contact in the flashpoint.
With Liam Boyce tucking away the late spot-kick the Dingwall team earned a point from Sunday’s 2-2 draw strengthening their top-flight survival chances.
But a deeply contrite Schalk insisted he was a first offender and labelled the incident completely out of character.
He said: “I really want to apologise, obviously to the referee, to Celtic and to the fans.
“I’ve seen it back and it’s stupid. I don’t know what I was thinking. There was no contact and I just want to say sorry, really. It will never happen again.
“I’m not a diver. I’ve never dived before, never been booked for diving before – not in Holland or here in Scotland. I don’t know where it came from.
“Like I said it was stupid. It is done now so I can’t change it anymore.
“I just need to go from here and whatever happens I will take it on the chin and move on from there.”
Schalk’s two-match ban for simulation came on the day Celtic skipper Scott Brown was officially cleared to play in Sunday’s William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final.
He was sent off for a foul on Boyce moments after the striker had levelled from the spot on Sunday following Schalk’s penalty-box dive.
Brown faced being banned for the Hampden clash with Rangers but it soon became clear the Easter holidays had prevented him from missing the derby.
Celtic submitted their appeal before yesterday’s 3pm deadline – 24 hours later than normal because of Monday’s holiday – with the SFA confirming the hearing would take place a week today.
That means Brown’s two-match ban is suspended until after the semi-final with the 31-year-old, who was set to get a rest anyway, due to miss league games against Rangers and St Johnstone if the appeal fails.
Schalk, who has hit eight goals for County this season, hopes to draw a line under last Sunday’s incident by speaking out.
The striker, who will miss games against Inverness and Motherwell, said: “From now on I just want to let my football do the talking and leave it at that.
“I was disappointed when I saw the incident back. Like I say I don’t know where it came from.
“I did expect contact. These kind of situations happen. I anticipated it and was waiting on him to contact me and it never came obviously because he’s a very clever player.
“I know my apology won’t change anything about it but I do want to apologise, especially to the referee, Celtic and the fans and I’ll take any punishment that happens.
“Losing two games from the remaining five is a massive blow but I need to accept that and move on. That will be it.
“I’ve not done myself a great favour but I trust the boys in getting the job done in the remaining matches. I hope when I’m back I can be useful again to keep us above the relegation zone.
“As everybody has been saying it was a massive point for us against Celtic – and there’s no denying that.
“Our main focus now has to be finishing seventh. We have to aim for five wins in the remaining games.”