Ange Postecoglou says the Celtic and Rangers staff made more mistakes than Kevin Clancy as he condemned abuse of the referee.
The experienced official has had personal details leaked online alongside a barrage of disgusting messages sent his way in the wake of last weekend's derby, which he officiated as Celtic won the Premiership match 3-2. He ruled out an Alfredo Morelos goal for the Parkhead visitors over a push on Alistair Johnston and that decision has been heavily scrutinised in its aftermath.
Postecoglou says the abuse directed at Clancy should serve as a reminder over how games are looked at, as he explained: "It's concerning for any person. We shouldn't even be talking about it. We all understand we work in a public space and with that comes scrutiny, but that should begin and end within the professions we work in, not go into our personal lives. And particularly with officials because, for the most part, we have clubs or supporter bases we would like to think would go into bat for us in situations like this.
"But the officials are kind of left out on their own. I think it's a really timely reminder to all of us about the language we use and the reasonings we use behind things.
"I mean last week, if you look at it, was a real derby game and it had a bit of everything, but it wasn't a great game. It was a game that was riddled by mistakes from both sides. Both sides.
"Players and, dare I say it, managers made a lot more mistakes than the officials did on the day. So why we need to separate that, from my perspective, if anyone analysed that game and think one moment decided that, then they are not really looking at the big picture.
"From my perspective, there is a decision there where everyone has opinions on it but it's not fact-based because it's not like it's an offside or something you can clearly see. It's an opinion-based thing.
"Everyone gives their opinion and ultimately one person has to make the decision. It's all right for us to give our opinion and be really brave but when you have got to be there and make a decision, that's when we have to have respect for the officials and allow them to do their job.
"Within the context of that, whatever opinions we have, I thought we should have had a penalty at Ibrox. But it doesn't really matter, you give your opinion and you move on, and you analyse the game.
"As I said, that was a mistake-riddled derby by both teams and to isolate the officials as to the reasoning why the contest went one way or another, I think gives a false impression and adds to the unnecessary pressure on the people making decisions."
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