Traditional media don’t want to touch it but across Social Media there was no escaping the actions of Bobby Madden following the Glasgow Derby.
The East Kilbride based referee is something of a media favourite, cultivating an image as a decent sort, one of the good guys with a love for the game. Certainly, without an affinity for one club and deep dislike for another.
It didn’t take detailed research of the Sky Sports coverage to uncover the two faces of Madden- at one incident he could hardly wait to get his red card out, at another he seemed to have lost it (his red card).
When Shane Duffy fouled Ryan Kent around 10 players decided to get involved. Alfredo Morelos was in the middle of it, Madden watched as he threw his hand towards Scott Brown then performed a bear hug to stop any further action. Outcome? Yellow card, which was a step up on the decision to ignore snapping at the ankle of Jeremie Frimpong in the first five minutes.
Madden is just one of many, last Saturday Willie Collum refused to award Hibs a penalty, two weeks earlier Steven McLean judged that a forearm smash into an opponent’s face was a yellow card offence.
Next Sunday John Beaton will be in charge at Aberdeen, as Kevin lany said in the summer match referees know what is at stake this season- that message has been taken on board to the letter this season without a word or even a ‘surprised and disappointed’ statement from the lame ducks at Celtic Park.
Unbelievable madden watched this done nothing pic.twitter.com/PMGFi4sdLw
— kate dunbar (@katedunbar61) January 2, 2021
Every time we go in to a derby now it ends with a picture of Brown getting slapped btw.
— AJ (@AJ__1987) January 2, 2021
Did u see the linesman (the rat on the right) at the end laughing at broony ? Its not unbelievable its expected BLAME OUR BOARD
— Paul kay (@Paulkay56136308) January 2, 2021
To say he did nothing is unfair…he gave him a hug and cheeky wee smile. pic.twitter.com/FWosCCOI8T
— JP1888? (@frusinatebhoy) January 2, 2021
Play it on a few frames and Madden takes a hold of El Coo and physically restrains him to prevent him from a red card incident. It is bazaar
— StanandOllie (@OllieStanand) January 3, 2021
If you have to physically restrain a player because of his behaviour why is he allowed to remain on the pitch? pic.twitter.com/w4JFXlRPrN
— Prince of Alba (@davidkerr1970) January 3, 2021
