Dundee United midfielder John Rankin has claimed Celtic benefited from putting “pressure” on the officials in the lead-up to Sunday’s League Cup final.
Ronny Deila’s men won 2-0, but United were angry that they were not awarded a penalty when Ryan Dow went down in the box in a challenge from Hoops captain Scott Brown.
Rankin suggested comments Celtic made during the week influenced the officials.
Deila accused United winger Aidan Connolly of diving during the sides’ stormy William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final last Sunday before wrongly claiming Celtic were the only side to have had players punished for simulation this term.
“You look at last week and there are big decisions in the game,” said Rankin. “Then today there are massive decisions again.
“The penalty should have been a penalty.
“But I also think the pressure that was put on the officials this week with what was said in the press was not merited.
“It was wise on their behalf to put a bit of pressure on them and it obviously worked in their favour because the decisions went their way.
“It doesn’t help the referee when people are wading in and trying to make comment when realistically they should just be leaving it to them to do their own job. Their job is hard enough as it is.”