adminWhistler Nick Walsh sparked frustration among the Rangers players when he awarded Celtic a free-kick following a heavy challenge by Mika Baur on Ryan Naderi.
Celtic midfielder Mika Baur should have been shown a yellow card for his clash with Rangers striker Ryan Naderi.
That is the view of former SFA referee Bobby Madden after the contentious incident went unnoticed during the Light Blues’ 3-0 derby-day victory in the Premier Sports Cup.
Walsh caused further anger among the Rangers players when he decided to penalise Naderi and award Celtic the set-piece after Baur’s forceful challenge.
After 64 minutes, the German midfielder caught the striker on the shin after Naderi had lost his footing while attempting to control the ball.
Baur escaped without any punishment as Walsh penalised Naderi and gave the free-kick to the visitors.
Speaking on his ‘So Near, Yet So VAR’ podcast, Madden believed Rangers had legitimate grounds for frustration but insisted a yellow card was the appropriate punishment rather than the red card some Rangers supporters have demanded.
He said: “The first thing to be upset about is that the free-kick went to Celtic.
“Then, I think you can see that Naderi loses his balance, slips a little, the ball goes behind his leg and then Baur comes in and makes the challenge.
“You are saying, yes, we have seen red card challenges for contact that high up the leg, but we always need to consider the criteria for serious foul play – speed, intensity, force, malice and endangering the safety of an opponent.
“If you look at this incident in it’s entirety, it doesn’t endanger an opponent, there is no malice, yes the contact is on the shin – but it’s not a red card offence. I believe it’s a yellow card for reckless, and showing a disregard for the opponent, and the free kick obviously should have gone to Rangers. But it’s not a red card offence.”
Madden also pointed out that VAR would have assessed the incident in its entirety rather than relying solely on a still image of the challenge when deciding whether Walsh should be sent to the monitor.
He said: “If you look at that contact, yes it’s high – but we don’t referee with still images. Yes, it’s good to prove the point of contact but that alone is not enough to warrant a red card for serious foul play. We have to consider all the other criteria.
“I think you can see the way that Baur enters the challenge there is an attempt to play the ball. Because Naderi slips the ball is then behind his leg, so it doesn’t tick the boxes at all.
admin
