It’s a chant that referees have been spared all season but today at Ibrox it ran truer than ever.
You Don’t Know What You’re Doing has been heard at every ground in the country with Nick Walsh the culprit.
In the 17th minute Jack Simpson was booked, perhaps that decision made Walsh eager to even things up with a booking for Callum McGregor seven minutes later.
Perhaps the excitement of his first Derby appointment clouded his judgement but Walsh wisely played advantage letting Kemar Roofe open the scoring. Quite clearly the Laws of the Game state that he can’t book McGregor for the challenge that the referee decided not to penalise with a free kick.
New: LAW CHANGES 2020/21
If the referee plays ADVANTAGE for an offence which ‘interfered with or stopped a promising attack’, the caution (yellow card, YC) is NOT issued.
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?? All changes explained: https://t.co/aFHh5seLhc#LOTG202021 pic.twitter.com/fZHoR9308k— The IFAB (@TheIFAB) July 2, 2020
Last month at Ibrox Bobby Madden was presented with a similar situation when Stephen Welsh fouled Ryan Kent. Madden played advantage, the Ibrox club scored and no card was shown to the Celtic defender.
Today’s match was a dead rubber, Celtic are a shambles but the Laws of the Game still apply. If Walsh can’t apply them he can go back to the Junior ranks, the Lowland League and League Two. If the SFA keep him in the top flight it tells others that not knowing the Laws of the Game is acceptable.
