Falkirk angry at Dallas decision

Ken Gallacher

6 Apr 1998

Scotland's World Cup referee Hugh Dallas was criticised after the Scottish Cup semi-final as he appeared to allow a tackle from behind to go unpunished - a decision which allowed Hearts to sweep upfield and score their second goal to reserve their place in next month's final.

The victim of the tackle, David Moss, went down after a challenge by Jim Hamilton, who had been moved back into midfield to mark the Englishman.

Afterwards, Moss claimed: ''I had the ball at my feet, I had it under control, not too far outside their penalty box when I was tackled from behind by Jim Hamilton.

I went down, the ball broke in their favour, and they moved upfield and scored.

If that had not happened then we would have been looking at a replay.

''I didn't have a chance to ask the referee about it because it all happened so quickly, but I was looking for a free kick.

''After all, he is the referee that is going to the World Cup, and he has been briefed about the tackle from behind.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was one of these tackles.

I was surprised when the whistle didn't go.

'' Hearts went straight upfield from that incident and Neil McCann set up the simplest of chances from Stephane Adam, who had put the Edinburgh men in front after only five minutes of the match.

McCann then added the third goal to give Hearts a flattering 3-1 scoreline.

The disappointment felt by Falkirk was heightened by the timing of that second goal.

It came four minutes after Kevin McAllister had scored the equaliser which would have pushed the teams into an Ibrox replay next midweek.

Instead, that second chance was cruelly snatched away.

Taken from the Herald