Nir Bitton hits out at red card decision by the referee that SFA love to send to Celtic Park

Nir Bitton has hit out at the decision of Euan Anderson to send him off against Dundee United in January. 

After watching Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side draw 3-3 in the lunchtime match at Ross County Celtic were presented with the opportunity to go to the top of the table after being six points adrift just two weeks earlier. 

Many eyes were on the Glasgow Derby but first of all Celtic had to overcome Dundee United without Tom Rogic and Daizen Maeda who were both away on international duty. 

The game was a struggle, Benji Siegrist was in inspired form for the visitors with Bitton on a yellow card. 

With 10 minutes left to play Greg Taylor was fouled 25 yards from goal, Anderson waved play on with Bitton fouling Declan Glass in the same passage of play. 

A second yellow card was issued, as Bitton trudged off it looked like Celtic would have to settle for a point with the midfielder watching the Derby from the stand with Ange Postecoglou already missing Rogic, Callum McGregor, Yosuke Guchi and David Turnbull. 

There was a happy ending to the story, Liel Abada popped up with a winning goal, McGregor found a mask with Celtic still on top of the table six weeks down the line. 

Recalling his red card against United Bitton told the Glasgow Times: 

First of all I don’t think it was a red card, you know we have seen some crazy decisions in this league. It is a game of football and we have seen a lot of times when teams have won games with ten players, even nine players. If I had stayed on the pitch I don’t know if we would have won the game so maybe my red card was better for the team. 

BBC Scotland statistics reveal that Celtic had 76% but conceded 10 free kicks compared to just seven by Tam Courts side. The corner tally was 14-2 in Celtic’s favour.

Anderson has now refereed five of Celtic’s 30 SPFL matches with four of them at Celtic Park.