Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Sorry is the hardest word for McInnes to hear after controversy
KILMARNOCK manager Derek McInnes is “fed up getting apologies” for officiating decisions as he continues to seethe over a penalty call at the weekend.
McInnes was incensed when referee Chris Graham failed to spot an apparent handball by St Johnstone defender Andy Considine inside the penalty area during the 1-1 cinch Premiership draw at Rugby Park
The Killie boss was perplexed that Graham was not called across to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by video assistant referee Mike Roncone.
McInnes has spoken to Scottish FA referees’ chief Crawford Allan and when asked why, he told Kilmarnock’s YouTube channel: “I think it is incumbent on the club to do that.
“We feel really hard done to and we’re paying a lot of money for the technology and to modernise our game. I was a big champion of VAR and I think all the managers got behind it because we wanted to help the referees. We all want improvements.
“I think with the exception of the offside law where you can see categorically there’s an improvement on those decisions, there’s still the usual debates. It’s people’s perception of incidents that need to improve.
“But I also feel that from my conversation with the refereeing department on Monday... I don’t want apologies. I’m fed up getting apologies.
“I want fairness, I want competence. I want people making the right decisions, not just for my team. I do feel we were so harshly treated and it’s not the first time.
“The referee should have spotted, he should see that’s a handball. We also feel there’s a handball from Liam Gordon in the first half in the six-yard box.”