RateTheRef

Unless one was present and heard the exchange between the referee and the managers then any conclusion we might draw is speculation. That speculation may be informed by circumstantial evidence or it may be informed by our existing predispositions whether to believe or not believe referees and managers. Unless it was proved that there had been no collusion between the managers and their accounts of what the referee said were entirely independent, I personally wouldn't give too much credence to the fact they they both took the same line. If I was pressed to judgement then, Mr Madden being a Scottish gentleman, I think I would resort to the peculiarly Scottish verdict of Not Proven.