text: The seeds of the Josh Meekings furore were planted during an otherwise unremarkable match between Hibernian and Dundee in the early weeks of 2013. Easter Road striker Gary Deegan caught Dens defender Gary Irvine high on his right shin in a dangerous challenge. Referee Craig Charleston saw an incident, but not the gory details. The official had his view obstructed by bodies and because of that the SFA could take no action. The governing body immediately took the stance they *should* be allowed to use video evidence to review incidents the referee had clearly missed. They altered the rules. Rules over use of video evidence to retrospectively ban players changed after this challenge by Gary Deegan (right) on Gary Irvine . PFA Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart disagreed, telling them so. And on Thursday night he renewed his call for member clubs to put the genie back in the bottle amidst widespread unease at the fact Meekings might have missed a Scottish Cup Final because a referee and his assistants failed to see a handball in last Sunday’s semi-final victory over Celtic. Retrospective action, believes the Scottish players’ union, has become too far reaching. Its tentacles now stretch to an uncomfortable distance. ‘The referee had a clear view of it but couldn’t see the actual contact because of the two players’ bodies,’ said Wishart of the critical Deegan and Irvine incident two years ago. ‘When the SFA told us they were considering changing the regulation to allow the use of video evidence, we were strongly against it. ‘Under the rules, they couldn’t charge Gary Deegan because the referee was the wrong side of the incident. They moved to change that. ‘But as has been proven with Meekings, it was opening a whole can of worms as you are effectively re-refereeing the games. Inverness defender Josh Meekings clearly used his hand to stop the ball in the Scottish Cup semi-final . ‘We warned this was too far and it would cause problems.’ Wishart takes no pleasure in being vindicated by the decision of the independent appeal panel which lifted a one-game suspension on Inverness player Meekings on Thursday. Under the existing rules, SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan was within his rights to charge the player. He had denied Celtic a goalscoring opportunity with his hand. The officials had missed it and, reviewing the video evidence, the governing body believed it was a red-card offence punishable retrospectively. Echoing the views of FIFA vice president Jim Boyce and others, however, Wishart believes the rules have gone too far. That the authority of referees is now being undermined for matters it shouldn’t be. ‘The purpose of video evidence is not to catch minor things,’ he continued. ‘No player has a problem with anyone getting caught giving a fly punch or kick off the ball. They know they deserve it. ‘I know the referees are not happy with this because Steven McLean is being examined after the game. ‘He made a mistake - but does he deserve the continued fall-out from that? I don’t think referees, players or fans want it. Now FIFA don’t want it, either. ‘We have moved now towards re-refereeing the game. Steven McLean did have a view of the incident on Sunday, even if he didn’t see the handball. ‘If something happens behind a referee’s back – a fly kick – that’s not re-refereeing it because the referee genuinely doesn’t see it. ‘But when referees have a view of it it’s different. ‘Steven McLean was in the ideal position to see it. ‘The rule was brought in primarily for things that happen behind the referee’s back - but he and Alan Muir had a view of this. ‘Their vision might have been blocked - but there are angles where they are looking at it with no players between them. ‘The fact is that we all make mistakes and funnily enough the biggest supporter for the referee in all of this will be the players. ‘They will be annoyed, they will be angry. Players know what it’s like to make a mistake. Meekings has been cleared to play after SFA had banned him after deeming the hand ball a red card offence . ‘It’s a major mistake and that should be dealt with in terms of referee’s observer and their markings. But you can’t re-referee a game. ‘We react to one incident - and what happened here was a reaction to Gary Deegan. ‘The immediate reaction is to change the rules so it can’t happen again. ‘But we can’t just be reacting to one single incident – it has to be wider than that. ‘No one has a problem with penalising violent conduct. The SFA have to listen to everyone within the game.’ Wishart’s issues with events on Sunday extend beyond the Meekings scenario. Inverness defender Gary Warren missed last year’s League Cup Final after contracting two bookings en route. Agonisingly, he suffered the same fate at Parkhead last weekend. In contrast with Meekings, he *will* miss another final against Falkirk under the punitive two strikes rule. ‘There is an element of fairness when it comes to being banned from cup finals, as well,’ added Wishart. ‘Does Gary Warren deserve to miss out due to two bookings? ‘If you’re sent off for violent conduct it’s different, but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and for a player to miss it due to two yellows or a soft red seems like injustice to me. It needs to be looked at.’
target: Scottish PFA chief believes retrospective action is too far reaching .
  Rules were changed after an incident between Gary Deegan and Gary Irvine .
  There was clamour to see action taken against Josh Meekings after a handball in the Scottish Cup semi-final that was missed by the referee .