Three days after a Scottish Cup defeat and two days before a vital SPFL match away to St Mirren Tam Courts is being grilled about Reo Hatate.
On Monday night Dundee United had gone all-in to make it into the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, taking a significant financial hit by halving the allocation of tickets given to Celtic fans.
At the end of January they had taken Celtic till the 90th minute before losing out to a Liel Abada goal, earlier in the season they had drawn 1-1 at Celtic Park.
Losing 3-0 at home, with the visitors dominant throughout would have been a significant blow. United have three matches left to finish in the top six- giving them a realistic prospect of fourth place and a European place next season.
St Mirren, Hibs and Dundee have to be faced to fulfil that goal with just one point currently separating six clubs which includes United, Hibs and St Mirren.
With all that to play for, at yesterday’s media conference Courts was asked for his thoughts on whether or not Hatate should have been sent off in a Scottish Cup tie.
The Daily Record reports:
I remember remonstrating on the side of the pitch at the time of Hatate’s challenge. I did feel there were some similarities to the Calum Butcher tackle (on David Turnbull) that was retrospectively looked at.
I’ve taken a look back and I don’t think there was any malice in it. But there is no doubt, in the modern game and under current rules, it was a red card. The referee has taken a different viewpoint and we have to move on from it.
I understand player care is really important but the thing I didn’t like about the Calum Butcher situation was the furore that was attached to his tackle.
He was hung, drawn and quartered externally. That’s the thing that disappoints me. When potentially over-zealous tackles are committed by non Celtic or Rangers players against the Old Firm, the furore attached is terrible.
I remember feeling at the time that Calum was victimised. I don’t want that for Hatate. He probably should have been sent off but there are so many things that happen in a game.
I’d be being a hypocrite if I wanted Hatate retrospectively banned. I didn’t want the furore around Calum Butcher and don’t want it now.
Tomorrow Hatate will be part of the Celtic squad looking to beat Ross County. If they manage that and United get a point away to St Mirren Courts’ side will move above sixth placed County in the Premiership table.
Good on him for not wanting a furore around Hatate, but we’ve had plenty of over zealous tackles against our players that the Daily Retard choose to ignore.
It’s only because of a certain game that’s on the horizon, that smelly rag is doing its usual best to influence squad strength.
The record didn’t seem to want to push for Ryan Jack’s tackles 3 games in a row.