Thomson responds to "cheat" accusations

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Daily Record

 

Rangers goal hero Thomson blasts back at Celtic 'cheat' claims

Mar 31 2008 Exclusive by Keith Jackson

 

OLD FIRM match-winner Kevin Thomson last night hit back at claims he tried to cheat Celtic out of the title on Saturday.

 

The midfielder, who got his first goal for the Ibrox club to open a six-point gap at the top of the SPL, was carried off late in the game with a suspected fractured shin after a controversial clash with Georgios Samaras.

 

Furious Celtic keeper Artur Boruc stood over the stricken Thomson accusing him of diving and trying to con referee Stuart Dougal. He was then rushed to hospital for X-rays on the injury but although medics gave him the all-clear the 23-year-old was still seething over claims he had taken a dive.

 

Speaking exclusively to Record Sport he said: "Anyone who knows me knows I'm not that type of player. I had to turn the car radio off on the way home because I could not believe some of the comments.

 

"To call me a cheat and a diver is outrageous because that kind of thing is just not in my nature.

 

"I've had a look at the incident again on TV and I can see why people are saying I was trying to win a foul. But that's not cheating.

 

"I had beaten Samaras with my first touch and I knew he was going to make contact with me. What was I supposed to do - jump out of his way?

 

"If a striker is going through on a keeper and he knows he's going to get hit does he try to jump out of it or does he wait for the contact?

 

"That's not cheating or diving, that's just part of football. So I'd be very disappointed if people levelled those kind of accusations at me. I play the game with my heart on my sleeve - I'm not a con artist.

 

"The bottom line is that I wasn't going to jump out of a challenge when I knew I had beaten him. It was up to him to alter his stride or get out of my way. He didn't do that.

 

"In fairness to him, he wasn't trying to kick me or injure me but I took a bit of a clatter. It was just one of these things that happen."

 

Thomson had already been booked by ref Dougal who flashed a yellow card at Boruc for reacting furiously to the flashpoint.

 

The midfielder said: "Boruc wanted me to get a second booking which would have been ridiculous. I saw a lot worse going on out there that was going unpunished.

 

"Stephen McManus could easily have been sent off because he was flying into a lot of tackles and not always on time.

 

"His foul on Jean-Claude Darcheville was horrific. But I don't recall any of our players shouting and bawling for him to be sent off.

 

"I certainly wasn't because that's what you expect in games like these. If you give it out you have to take a bit too.

 

"McManus is a committed big guy who was trying his best for his club. I don't have a problem with that.

 

"But for Boruc to react the way he did? That lacked class.

 

"I'm not going to get dragged into anything controversial but let's just say I was disappointed with his reaction.

 

"He could clearly see I was hurt. If I was acting or milking it then that would have been a different matter - I get frustrated with players who do that myself - but football players know when people are at it and when they are genuinely in pain.

 

"On reflection, I'm sure he'll be disappointed with himself. He's racking up a lot of silly bookings and could end up on a suspension."

 

Rangers boss Walter Smith, speaking immediately after the game, also leapt to the defence of his midfielder.

 

He said: "I don't know why nothing was given as the boy nearly got a broken leg and how can you break a leg without contact?

 

"He does not have a broken leg but I guess it is one of those situations that will remain a mystery."

 

Thomson now hopes to be fit in time for Thursday's UEFA Cup quarter-final first-leg clash with Sporting Lisbon, having feared at first his season would be over.

 

He said: "I was in agony and that worried me as I have a high pain threshold.

 

"I like to make 50-50 tackles and get into the thick of it so my body is used to taking knocks. But this one was different.

 

"The longer I lay there the more painful it became. I could feel my shin throbbing and that's when I started to worry that something was seriously wrong. I must admit, I feared the worst.

 

"I'm only just back from a double hernia and the last thing I need is to go out injured again at this critical stage of the season.

 

"That's why it was such a relief in the hospital when the X-ray showed up that nothing was fractured.

 

"Now all I want to do is get into Murray Park, let the medics get to work on it and get me fit for Thursday.

 

"I don't want to miss another second of this season, there is so much to play for.

[juffery 0]

Good lad.

 

Boruc lacks class. well, d'uh!!!!

[stewarty 1,876]

I enjoyed reading that. It's not often you'll hear players come out and say something like that so openly.

 

Kevin Thomson will be public enemy # 1 for the Green and Greys from now on...

[Jon 0]

Love the "class" remark

[craig 5,195]

Good for him. He said what many of us think about the Celtic players, and he is spot on, about both McManus and moreso about Boruc !