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"You want the truth, you can't handle the truth!" Celtic LOST because JH out-thought Delilah by going 4-4-2 Celtic LOST because Draper/Tansey outfought and outplayed Broon/Biton Celtic LOST because Warren/Meekings hardly gave Griffiths a sniff Celtic LOST because Matthews couldn't cope with Watkins' pace Celtic LOST because Gordon made a poor decision to dive at Watkins' feet Celtic LOST because Delilah took off the only player on Celtic's team who was anywhere near a match for ICT (Forrest) Celtic LOST because they failed to score from open play Celtic LOST because ICT played better footbal Celtic LOST because Ross/Shinnie and Raven combined to score a fantastic goal 3 minutes from the end of extra time Celtic LOST to the better team on the day, who wanted it more Celtic LOST because they thought it would be a cake-walk to the treble Dry your eyes and learn to take defeat gracefully.

In an interview with STV Ryan saying he wants to stay at Inverness and learn his trade despite interest from down south. Old head on young shoulders and very refreshing to hear.

So the incident was outwith the jurisdiction of the CO. Seems a pretty elementary thing to check before going down this route. Looks like the SFA hoped we'd just suck it up and take their attempt to appease Celtic. Makes the position of the Current CO untenable in my opinion, as he clearly doesn't understand the scope of his powers or the protocols to which he needs to adhere.

You don't need any internet trawl to know that Lunny is a complete t*sser. BBC article here http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32442417 He thinks the most likely reason Josh was successful was because the panel felt sympathetic or were confused. (I'm sure that will go down well with the panel.) The confusion element stems from the fact that whilst the officials may have seen the incident, they did not see the offence and therefore the panel may have wrongly thrown the case out because they thought that as the officials had seen the incident, it was not actually a matter for the panel. On the radio he said a 3rd option was that they did not see the handball as deliberate but that having seen the footage he would think that was the least likely explanation. He then goes on to defend the new Compliance Officer for bringing the case on the grounds that failing to do so would have set a dangerous precedent. No footballer anywhere in the world has ever been retrospectively punished by their FA for handball and yet Lunny thinks that not punishing Josh would be a dangerous precedent! And was he therefore not setting dangerous precedents week after week himself by failing to bring a single similar case to a tribunal when he was Compliance Officer? What planet is the guy living on? Justice has been done and now there is an urgent need for some serious review of the shambolic state of the SFA

Now that this has been sorted out, correctly in my view, it is time to look at who are the real villians in this matter. For me it is the SFA. If, as reported, the officials did not see the handball incident clearly enough to be sure it struck a hand, they cannot give a penalty, end of story. As I have said before, there is no conclusive TV footage that gives the view from the referee or his assistant so to use TV footage to try and retrospectively ban a player is a very gig step to take and a wrong one in my opinion. People will say the referee made a mistake on this but again, in my view he has not as he cannot be sure it was handball from where he saw the incident. That really should have been the end of the matter but the SFA, who are the real villians in this wanted a scapegoat to appease the Celtic support. How difficult would it have been for the SFA to say that "referee or assistants, from their viewpoint, did not see a handball and could not give a penalty". I do feel for the officials in this game now as they have been hung out to dry by a spineless SFA. Finally, and this is really lazy journalism, if this citing could have happened since the rules were introduced, why did someone not ask Vincent Lunny why he had not raised a case before as don't for one minute think this has not happened previously. Lunny was constantly stating rules are the rules, clubs are aware of them and citing perfectly valid so why had this not happend before. Not wanting to start a conspiracy theory but you can draw your own conclusions.

We should put Willie Collum in charge.

Here's another 4 then....

Living in Perth, it was great to be surrounded by all the cup final buzz and build up last May, and it made me very envious that ICT weren't in the final. Perth is quite similar to Inverness in terms of being a similar sized place that generally doesn't have a huge amount of interest in its football team, even one which punches above its weight. But the whole place got right into the cup final spirit, with schools, shops, local papers, the council etc all getting involved, so I really hope Inverness can rise to the occasion and for once give the team the backing it deserves.

He could emulate Jean-Marc Bosman in becoming synonymous with a certain situation. Fan 1: "Is Smithy not suspended for this week's game?" Fan 2: "Nah, he's available on a Meekings."

When delivering papers to my 90 year old neighbour this morning she greeted me with a big smile and said "Meekings got off, they should never have tried to ban him from the final"

SFA have just announced allocations. Falkirk get 51,800 seats and we get 200. They get the stands and we get the toilets.

Can we please leave the paranoia and conspiracy theories to Celtic and other Ugly Sister. No conspiracy just yet another c#ck up by the Scottish football authorities.

We need people like John Hughes in the game and in general life. Has he ever had a bad word for anyone? I think not but there might have been the odd shake of the head. He is a great manager and has brought our team to the dizzy height we are at now, his calmness and humour are ever present as is his praise for the lads putting the team first and always reluctant to accept praise for himself. His humorous pre match discussions on how good the other teams are and how difficult it will be to get something out of the match, when all the time the twinkle in his eye is saying we have got you lot sussed. John is in a class of his own compared to most football managers the nearest comparison being our near rival's otb so well done the Highlands. At Brora pre season he was sitting surveying the prematch workout, deep in thought in the stand, I shouted up to him is this the Inverness support end and the big beaming smile I got back lit up the stadium and it said it all Stick with it John ICT and football need you

I always had a soft spot for Celtic as they were my boyhood "Big Team". Not any more! That was about as low as they could get, and I can't see how I can now consider them with anything but contempt. Fortunately justice was done today and a major embarrassment to Scottish football averted.

Glad you brought up the apparently obvious Irish sound to these CO names ... I've been biting my tongue on that aspect so much over the last 48 hours that it's really quite tender lol!

Interesting to hear that the original letter of complaint included a rant from John Collins about a conspiracy against Septic. Then we get the SFA compliance officer with the name Tony (presumably Anthony) McGlennan asking for Josh to answer the charge. If that doesn't sound like an Irish name then the Pope is not a Catholic. Add to that the previous CO was called Lunny, another Irish name, who said that Josh was guilty. So who was is the conspiracy against then? I would also add that I was told by various friends who listened to the BBC Radio Scotland live commentary and the Sky TV live coverage of the game that both were heavily biased towards Septic. So in the face of such adversity all I can say is GIRUY to all these twats!

Already on the masks for Josh meekings. http://www.printster.co.uk/personalised-face-masks-155/personalised-face-masks-1823.html

Think you might see a few tomorrow mannie ...lol.

wish we had her in our section instead of them bell ends coming in and trying to ruin what a great day out

I would like to see everybody wearing Josh Meekings masks.

It's in hand! Watch this space.

It is a bit like the merger as well. That was a farce.

I will be there without the feckin car and I will try to discover a little something to make me sweeter, but maybe refrain from breaking my heart. Caley I am so in love with you, I will be forever blue, don't give me a reason not to make me work so hard, that you gimme no, that you gimme no, that you gimme no, that you gimme no - I hear you calling, baby please show a little respect to me.

Yup ... the CO has got to understand his remit ... this should be his "bread & butter" ... he is an experienced city lawyer for goodness sake and should know it inside out especially given this was a high profile matter with his reputation on the line if he dropped a clanger ... fundamental ... and frankly unbelievable

What a clown Lunny is. By his logic we should now refer Zaluska for violent conduct on Ofere, unless you consider a punch that Mayweather would be proud of not to be violent conduct. ICT and the Board have shown the football world how to rise above all this crap, while Celtic has done their reputation no favours at all. Grow up - and move on!

It was reported on Monday or even Sunday night that the ref had consulted the goal-line assistant and linesman as to the incident with Josh. He did not see it clearly to award a foul, the goal-line assistant though it hit Josh's head, and the linesman didn't see it. That was as clear as day, they mis-interperated what happened, but did consider it could have been an offence but ruled it out as none of them knew for sure. The tv pictures show the incident clearly, but you cannot tell if he tries to save the header, you normally have your eyes open if you try to save a shot or header. It was certainly not intentional. I do remember an 'incident' earlier this season, at Kilmarnock, but can't remember who the opposition were, but it wasn't Celtic, may have been the Dons or Well. Player unsighted from ref and linesman, raised his hand and saved a shot from 8-10 yards or so. No question about being accidental, or to close to avoid, he saved it like a keeper. No penalty, and it was near the end of the game. I can remember Sportscene making a feature about it. Conclusive tv showing the player raising his hand to his right and palming the ball off the line. No Complience Officer involved for what was an unquestionable deliberate handball. That would have set a precident for the after the incident retrospective handball, not to raise it when it was extremely questionable because it was against Celtic. I do hope that the Celtic players and management after this are men, and do not lay out a Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Scott Brown style of vengence in their last game of the domestic season.

This will rumble on because of the incompetence of the SFA throughout, but this will be my last word on it: The SFA's handling of the whole thing from the sound of the final whistle on Sunday has been pathetically weak and short-sighted (excuse the pun, given the vision impairment of the officials!) Once the graceless eejits at Celtic had decided to lay the blame for their defeat on everybody else bar themselves, a firm decision should have been made to shut the whole thing down so as not to undermine the authority of officials on or off the pitch. Something along the lines of "The referee's decision is final. Mistakes that are made by officials will be dealt with through our standard processes. This will be dealt with in the same way as every other incident of this nature.The end." Instead, the CO became involved, subsequent to the receipt of a whinging letter from Celtic FC to appease a sizeable proportion of their support who were hell-bent on blaming SFA links to Rangers for the defeat!!!! Another opportunity was missed to close the whole case down and instead the SFA sets a worldwide precedent and takes the case to the panel amidst global condemnation. Now they're in a real stooshie because the issue of whether the officials saw/didn't see the incident/offence of deliberate/accidental handball is scrutinised in every detail. Now the outcome can only end in humiliation for the SFA: (a) 6 officals did not see the incident and are therefore either blind or biased (b) the officials saw the incident but believed it to be acciental, in which case it shouldn't have got through the CO (who must therefore be bised/incompetent) © the officials saw the incident, but thought it hit his head, in which case they'd have to take the unprecedented step (worldwide) of banning Josh and facing the wrath of FIFA for setting the precedent The outcome looks to me to be a bit of a fudge, which opens the door for the Celtic mob to continue crying about SFA bias. That's what you get for being spineless!

SUPERCALEYGOBALLISTICTHECOMPLIANCEOFFICEISATROCIOUS

John Hughes might do Josh a wee favor by omitting him from the squad in the last game of the season. Just for the one game, as we will need to protect young Josh from Injury. As it would be just like Celtic to make a hero out of the player who does keep Josh out of the final, and for them having probably already won the league they might think playing the last game with ten men worthwhile for their conspiracy chipped shouldered fans to get their perceived revenge. Would not trust the likes of Scott Brown trying to break his legs, or give him a Durrant style knee. As the final is the following week, all our players will need to be on high alert for the revenge tackle to injure our players and lessen our chances against Falkirk. We've already had a dislocated knee against them, and that was accidental. If we have beaten the Arabs to 3rd, I would give the under 20s a taste of Parkhead

Ironic thread title! There are plenty Inverness fans who have never had any affiliation for either of that pair. Your casual reference of supporting Celtic but have changed to ICT suggests too much time interchanging clubs on a PC game - rather than having to literally live out the reality of supporting a wee club like us versus the sickening institution that is Celtic. The religion, bigotry, self-righteousness, and many more unmentionables, make that club one of whom nobody can be proudly associated. There is simply a HUGE cultural divide! It is inconceivable to me that one day, you support Celtic, but the next, Caley Thistle! Ouch.....I have to disagree, in my opinion, those fans who once supported other clubs even Celtic and Rangers are just as valued and welcome as fans of ICT as those of us who once stood on the terraces of Kingsmills and Telford Street. In the days of highland league football, when having a team in the SFL, never mind the top flight, seemed a distant dream, it was not unusual to support a 'big' team. Even when we got into the league there weren't many conflicts of interest between ICT and the big team. For me, the cup tie at Tynecastle defined the true pecking order. Following from afar, the roar I let out when the second went in told me exactly where my loyalties lay.

Cut the man some slack Sneckboy! I would suggest most people's reasons for adopting a club are circumstantial and not a political statement! Unless your dad takes you along you probably choose a team because you see them on telly or like the colour they play in etc. well done Buckett on baring your soul and making your confession in public....

Well chuffed to hear the good news. We can get back to all the positivity that's been created from our Successful Hampden muster.

I was surprised but pleased that the independent panel had the guts, integrity and common sense to bring this farce to an end. However, as for the officials, we need to take a long hard look at who is administering our game and how it's administered. Leaving aside the motivation for raising this matter in the first place, the great and the good running our game failed to anticipate the scorn and derision rightly directed at our game for being the only national association in the World to take this course just as they failed to anticipate, until very recently, that constantly talking down and belittling the game in this country would deter potential blue chip sponsors just a tad and just as they failed to anticipate that we fans would feel beyond aggrieved by the plan to parachute the Rangers Newco straight into the SPL. The likes of Jim Farry and Ernie Walker had their faults and idiosyncrasies but well regarded and respected internationally and, as a result, so was Scottish football. The current CEOs of both the SFA and the League are, with justification, seen in a much poorer light and, as a consequence, so is our game. The Meekings farce is just the latest symptom of this long running malaise and it must surely be time for change at the very top of both structures. Surely it's time now for change...

It is the SFA's Compliance Officer who should be looking at alternative career options.

Well done Ryan!

Ironic thread title! There are plenty Inverness fans who have never had any affiliation for either of that pair. Your casual reference of supporting Celtic but have changed to ICT suggests too much time interchanging clubs on a PC game - rather than having to literally live out the reality of supporting a wee club like us versus the sickening institution that is Celtic. The religion, bigotry, self-righteousness, and many more unmentionables, make that club one of whom nobody can be proudly associated. There is simply a HUGE cultural divide! It is inconceivable to me that one day, you support Celtic, but the next, Caley Thistle! Ouch.....I have to disagree, in my opinion, those fans who once supported other clubs even Celtic and Rangers are just as valued and welcome as fans of ICT as those of us who once stood on the terraces of Kingsmills and Telford Street.

The caustic soda on my left upper arm is fair hurting.

Most current ICT and Falkirk players have never played in this fixture before. So past results mean nothing. It'd be like worrying about Forfar because they beat us so often back in Division 3. Reminds me of the old Trigger sketch in Only Fools and Horses. "This old broom has had 17 new heads and 14 new handles in it's time." We're not the same team anymore, neither are they. Can't say I'm too familiar with their current squad. Jamie MacDonald is a good keeper. David McCracken is a solid centre half. Mark Kerr and Alan Maybury were tosh in the SPL, and are as old as the hills now, so can see them struggling to cope with our pace. Cooper once scored a goal against us for County, but don't remember him doing much else.

I appreciate the sincerity of your post but, with all due respect, supporters of clubs outside the Old Firm (no matter how much you detest the term) have long since stopped being surprised by anything that happens in matches against either of them. As a wee club I doubt we would be 'demanding' anything.

There is only one part of your post that I take issue with. Whilst we would, without doubt, have felt aggrieved and disappointed, I am as certain as I can be that ICT would not have written to the SFA to ask for an explanation. We would have simply accepted that we were on the wrong end of a bad refereeing decision at a crucial time as every single club is from time to time. In fact, I can only think of two clubs in the land who would have the arrogance to write to the governing body demanding an explanation. One is your own and one is barely four years old. You are each as bad as each other and football in this country would be much the healthier and far fairer without either of you.

I've been a Celtic supporter for almost 60 years and was at Sunday's Game and of course I was disappointed that we got beat and it does hurt to get so close to a Treble and not get it. But that feeling would have been the same if the incident involving Josh had never happened. I don't know a single Celtic supporter that want's to see him barred from the final. He should have been dealt with at the time and that might have seen him miss the final - who knows? But IMO the fact that every official was temporarily 'blind' at the crucial moment isn't good enough reason for the Compliance Officer to act and I think it's a deliberate attempt by the SFA to scapegoat Meekings as a deflection from the gross failure of every single match official. Celtic fans have many reasons to distrust the SFA - some good and other perhaps not - but they have no impact on what's going on here. As to Celtic's right to ask for an explanation: I would ask if positions were reversed on the day would ICT fans not be demanding an explanation? I'm sure they would. In the past these kinds of things were dealt with secfretly and privately and surely in this day and age football fans want to move-on into a more transparent approach to governing the game and ways to improve that process. ICT well deserved their victory on Sunday and deserve to be in the final. IMO so does Josh Meekings - I simply don't care whether it was intentional or accidental although I do think it was a penalty and I don't believe none of the officials saw the incident. Whether they saw his hand hit the ball or 'saw' his face hit the ball or surmied it was his head that hit the ball I haven't a clue. But they - for whatever reason - appear to have taken a vow of Omerta. Meekings, on the other hand, has been honest since the post-match interview in saying it struck his hand and admitting he was lucky. I admire they guy for that because he didn't fudge the question and told the truth. For that alone he deserves to be in the final! celtic as a club have no axe to grind with the player or ICT - you have given us good games and the odd roasting and we value you as worthy opponents and good footballers and I would hate to think SFA manufactured nonsense and PR spin could create a rift between us. I'm sure it won't.

You put your right arm in. Your right out, in, out, in out, You put the Celtic out, You do the Josh Meekings and Turn around, We put the Celtic out, out, out.

Or we could just win the cup, making the whole issue academic.