The wind and the rain and Renton add up to a day of farcical football

JAMES TRAYNOR

7 Jan 1991

JOE Jordan had to choose his words carefully after Saturday's defeat -- football's archaic rules which outlaw one of society's basic rights, freedom of speech, mean grown men with the game's best interests at heart cannot speak their minds -- but the gist of his lament was clear enough.

The Hearts manager couldn't say Jim Renton, who refereed the game against Rangers at Tynecastle, had a dreadful match, but since the SFA's conspiracy of silence does not extend to newspapers, let us say what the majority of those who watched Rangers' 1-0 win believed.

Mr Renton was awful and, along with the appalling conditions, helped make the game a farce.

The referee's decisions throughout the 90 minutes were erratic and, even though the wind and rain made his work extremely difficult, it is not surprising that Hearts will submit to the SFA this morning an unfavourable report about Mr Renton.

Although an official complaint will not do them any good, Hearts feel they must register their anger.

They believe the referee cost them a share of the points, and it is difficult to argue with them.

Speaking slowly and deliberately, almost as though he had been briefed by one of President Bush's advisers on the Gulf crisis, Jordan said: "You have to feel for the supporters, who had been warned about the conditions yet came here in large numbers.

There had been concern that the weather would spoil the game, but it wasn't the conditions which spoiled the match."

The most controversial decision was made in 61 minutes, when many of the 20,956 supporters expected Mr Renton to award Hearts a penalty after Stuart Munro appeared to have tripped Gary Mackay inside Rangers' box.

Play was waved on and seconds later Craig Levein fouled Mark Hateley -- and the Hearts defender was sent off.

A bout of mayhem ensued and Jordan himself had to be ticked off before the ball had started rolling again.

It was after the dismissal of Levein that Rangers were able to start pushing the ball around with any degree of confidence and just when it seemed as though Hearts would hold out for a draw Hateley scored.

There were only a couple of minutes remaining when Maurice Johnston knocked the ball to Mark Walters inside Hearts' box and the winger beat two defenders before clipping the ball across the face of the goal.

Hateley was waiting to hook the ball in.

It was something of an injustice and some of Hearts' players could not leave the pitch at the end without letting the referee know how they felt.

One of them, keeper Henry Smith, it transpired later, is to be reported for ungentlemanly conduct.

Three players, Levein, Gary Stevens, and Terry Hurlock, had been booked during the game, but there was confusion about the Hearts player's caution.

A handful of minutes before half-time someone obviously spoke out of turn and the referee singled out Levein for a word, but appeared to flash the yellow card in Mackay's direction.

It was some time after the game before it became clear that Levein had in fact been booked and that that must have been the reason why the referee had no hesitation in sending the central defender off for his foul on Hateley.

Nevertheless, Mr Renton's handling of the booking incident was typical of his work throughout the match.

Exactly what he was doing never did become clear.

Hearts, however, might be able to find some consolation in the continuing improvement in their form.

They are beginning to play with more belief and confidence and their upturn coincides with an improvement in Derek Ferguson's play.

The midfield player, bought from Rangers in the close season, has been dogged by injury and he has taken time to assert himself at Tynecastle.

However, his performances of late have greatly encouraged Jordan.

One of Ferguson's former team-mates, Richard Gough, also had another good match, but he, like both managers, was concerned about the fans, who were soaked on their way to the game and drenched during it.

He was also particularly honest in his assessment of the 90 minutes.

"I don't think any of us enjoyed it," he said, "and I don't think we deserved anything out of the game, but the sending off gave us a lift."

Taken from the Herald