Reo Hatate branded a Celtic 'cheat' as former ref claims star was 'at it' with St Mirren dive

Reo Hatate 'cheated' to try to win a Celtic penalty against St Mirren, according to a former top ref.

Des Roache has pulled up the Japanese midfielder after he hit the deck during the first half of Saturday's 3-0 Premiership victory for Brendan Rodgers' title chasers. The Paisley side were proving to be awkward opponents and while Hatate broke the deadlock with a great strike after the break, he resorted to desperate measures to find a breakthrough during the first 45.

He knocked the ball one side of Marcus Fraser before going the other, but went to ground with no chance of collecting the ball on that side. The Buddies defender was clearly unhappy and ref Steven McLean waved the Celtic man up. Replays showed there was no contact whatsoever with Fraser and Roache has now accused Hatate of cheating and being "at it" in his attempts to win a spot kick.

He told the Behind the Whistles podcast: "For me, I thought he was looking for it. I thought he went down extremely easily and he looked to initiate the contact and for me, that's simulation.

"When you put simulation, you put /diving. The you put /cheating. I thought he was at it. It's ridiculous.

"What I was surprised at was that Steven McLean never caught it. I know it can't go to VAR because it doesn't take into consideration cautions for yellow cards. That's all simulation is sanctioned by. But Hatate was at it. I would say it was a dive."