Sky Sports Ref Watch believes Steven McLean made the correct initial decision, but Jay Bothroyd argues the Hoops defender had to be dismissed.
Auston Trusty’s Celtic red card continues to divide opinion, with the Sky Sports Ref Watch panel split over the controversial Tynecastle incident.
The USA international was shown a red card for bringing down Hearts forward Landry Kabore as he broke beyond the Hoops back line. Referee Steven McLean first produced a yellow card for the Celtic centre-half, but was advised to review the incident by VAR official John Beaton.
Following the on-field review, Celtic were reduced to ten men and Hearts capitalised late on when Claudio Braga struck an equaliser. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher maintains McLean’s original decision was the correct one, arguing Kabore did not have an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
“It’s really harsh to be honest,” he told Sky Sports. “The law says DOGSO and the ‘O’ stands for obvious. I think this is possible and the referee has got it right on the field. If you look, the player’s not in possession of the ball, he’s got to carry on after that ball. That’s one thing. He’s moving away from goal. He will get the ball eventually but by the time he gets the ball, the defender will come across.”
However, fellow pundit Jay Bothroyd took the opposite view and feels Kabore’s speed meant he would have been able to test Kasper Schmeichel.
He said: “It’s a possible goalscoring opportunity, right, that’s where Dermot’s got me. but I know for sure in that situation, when you look at the pace of that player – I was pretty quick – but he’s rapid. He’s going to take a touch inside there and his next touch will take him towards goal. I believe he will get a shot off, which then is a goalscoring opportunity.
“But it’s not obvious. So that’s what Dermot’s saying. The reason why it hasn’t been given initially is because it’s not obvious. The far defender there, Dermot thinks will cover round and maybe get a tackle in or a block. That is a red card and goal scoring opportunity, because that defender isn’t going to get round.”
Gallagher, though, stood firm in his assessment, insisting the challenge failed to satisfy two key requirements for a red card.
He added: “Don’t forget, there’s the other two criteria that it doesn’t fulfil; A, the player is not possession of the ball. Fact. And B, the ball is moving away from goal. Fact”