As the aftermath of the Scottish Cup replay between Celtic and Dundee United extends towards tomorrow’s SPFL match one incident seems to have been overlooked.
Arguments about Ryan McGowan, Anthony Stokes, Paul Paton and Efe Ambrose will simmer on for a while but next to nothing has been discussed about Rado Czierniak’s first minute foul on Leigh Griffiths.
United had already been awarded a free kick, virtually straight from the kick off when a through ball was sent through to Griffiths.
With no offside flag the hoops striker raced onto the ball as the United keeper charged out of his penalty box unlikely to reach the ball ahead of Griffiths.
With both feet off the ground and the ball knocked past him Czierniak scythed down Griffiths. Whether it was violent conduct or denying a clear scoring opportunity it should have been a red card.
For reasons best known to himself Calum Murray only issued a yellow card and the tone was set for the match with both sets of players out to test the nerve of the referee.
Whether the game is in the first minute or the last, whether it’s a goalkeeper, centre-half or striker the laws of the game should be applied equally.
If Murray can’t deliver on the big decisions he should be taken off the biggest games in the Scottish calendar.
Craig Thomson’s performance in the first tie led to him being cast aside for the replay- Murray should suffer the same fate if the game is to prosper with a clear message sent out to upcoming officials that the laws of the game aren’t to be adapted to suit circumstances.
MORE PICTURES here thanks to @celticresearch
