GOODWIN CHARGED FOR PORTEOUS ‘CHEAT’ CLAIM

ABERDEEN boss Jim Goodwin has been charged by the SFA following his scathing criticism of Hibs defender Ryan Porteous.

Goodwin accused Porteous of ‘blatant cheating’ in the aftermath of Hibs’ 3-1 victory over the Dons at Easter Road last weekend.

The Irishman was incensed by what he felt was a dive from Porteous in the incident which saw Aberdeen’s Liam Scales sent off after a penalty had been awarded to the home side. With Aberdeen leading 1-0 at the time, Scales was shown a second yellow card by referee David Dickinson after a tangle with Scotland defender Porteous at a corner.

Goodwin felt the Hibs centre-back had pulled his player and then gone down looking for a spot-kick — and he gave him both barrels in a scathing post-match interview.

‘I don’t know how many times the boy Porteous can get away with that kind of stuff,’ said the Aberdeen boss. ‘We’re telling our players in midweek to be careful with him in the box, be careful with him at set-plays and don’t touch him as he will go over.

‘I had a laugh and a joke with the ref prior to the game to make him aware of it. Unfortunately, just before half-time he was sucked in hook, line and sinker. ‘We showed our players a number of instances when Porteous has won penalties like that in the past. People will say he’s good at it and he’s clever. But it’s blatant cheating as far as I’m concerned and it’s cost my team points. ‘I told Porteous to his face after the game what I thought of him. I don’t care what he reads in the paper on Sunday and Monday. He knows. He’s laughing about it. He celebrates winning penalty kicks like he’s scored a goal.’ Goodwin has now been hit with two separate SFA disciplinary charges.

He has been accused of breaching a rule which forbids comments of a discriminatory or offensive nature. He has also been accused of not acting in the best interests of football. A hearing has been pencilled in for October 6.