Boerrigter faces two-match SFA ban for ‘diving’
CELTIC wide man Derk Boerrigter faces a two-game ban after being issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish FA’s compliance officer for alleged simulation.
The Dutchman went to ground inside the box during the Scottish Premiership clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday night as he was challenged by Dave Mackay.
The Saints captain was sent off by referee John Beaton for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Nir Biton scored from the spot for Celtic’s second goal in the 3-0 win.
Boerrigter allegedly breached rule 201: which is “causing a match official to make an incorrect decision by committing an act of simulation” and has been offered a fixed two-match suspension.
If he does not accept the charge and suspension he will face a disciplinary hearing on Thursday, 21 August. Boerrigter has until Monday at 3pm to respond to the fixed suspension offer.
St Johnstone appealed Mackay’s red card and that will also be dealt with on 21 August by a tribunal.
Celtic boss Ronny Deila vowed to speak with Boerrigter if he feels his player has a propensity for diving.
He said: “I haven’t seen it but as I said yesterday, there will be decisions for and against Celtic and over 38 games the best team will win.
“But I don’t like diving. I don’t want to cheat.
“We have to see the pictures and if he dived too easy, I will have to have a little talk with Derk.
“I want fair play but I have to see it before I can say anything.’’
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright criticised the decision afterwards, which he believed had a crucial bearing on the outcome of the match.
“The decision went against us, then we’re out of the game and down to ten men,” he said. “If there was contact it was minimal and it didn’t make him go down because he didn’t go down right away. That’s clear for everybody to see. He actually collapses his right leg which is the leg furthest away from Mackay.” HENRIK Ojamaa was a regular starter as Legia Warsaw won the Polish league last season but the Estonian believes he will be happier playing in his natural position at Motherwell.
The 23-year-old played 45 games for Legia after moving from Well last summer but manager Henning Berg mostly played him on the right wing rather than his preferred option of up front.
So Ojamaa’s mind was set on a move even before Legia suffered the stunning blow of losing their Champions League place to Celtic.
And Fir Park was the perfect destination for Ojamaa to rediscover the full joy of scoring goals and running at the heart of defences.
The Estonia international, who was joined in signing a five-month loan deal at Motherwell by Derby defender Mark O’Brien, said: “If you look at the amount of games I’ve played and the games I’ve started and I won the title as well it all looks really good but I wasn’t enjoying my football as much due to my position.
“I was knocking on the manager’s door every couple of months asking If I can get a shot playing as a striker but the way the team played it never happened unfortunately.
“I enjoy football much more being a striker. I feel I can use my best qualities and I am the most beneficial to the team as well when I’m playing that role.”
Ojamaa, who replaces close friend Henri Anier in the Motherwell squad, added: “It feels great to be back. When the option with Motherwell came up it made sense in a lot of ways. I know the manager really well and the majority of the team, the people in general in Motherwell were great to me and I haven’t forgotten that and I really appreciate it.
“I don’t think it’s going to take long to get used to the surroundings, the team and the way the manager works. For me right now I need to get my fitness up. It’s not quite what I’d like it to be having missed a lot of pre-season because of injury.”
The return of Ojamaa ahead of the home clash with Inverness in the Scottish Premiership has been hailed by