Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Heart of Midlothian - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - May 7, 2022 Hearts' Barrie McKay remonstrates with referee Don Robertson after Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Malky Mackay has called out Don Robertson over his decision not to send off James Sands during his side’s 4-0 defeat at Ibrox.
Already on a yellow card the American defender rugby tackled Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila to the ground as the forward prepared to run in on Jon McLaughlin’s goal.
Can’t believe thats not a red lol pic.twitter.com/WxZfW5M382
— Miff (@smisco89) August 27, 2022
??”A decision happens that is beyond me as to why he wasn’t sent off. It changes the balance of the game. You have got to get decisions like that right.”
Ross County Malky Mackay was “hurting” after Rangers’ James Sands was not shown a first-half red at Ibrox ?? pic.twitter.com/2xWk1XA4qY
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 27, 2022
It was a clear foul and red card offence, aware of the stakes involved and keen to ensure continued appointments Robertson pretended that he never saw anything as he waved play on.
With 11 men on the park the home side scored twice in each half to take full points and leave County at the bottom of the table.
Listening in to Mackay’s interview with BBC Sportsound, The Sun reports the Ross County boss saying:
I think I had every right to be (frustrated) I think viewers will see tonight – Jordy rolls him and James Sands falls, puts his arms round him, and falls with him.
He should have been sent off – it’s a straight red – if it’s not a red I don’t know why it’s not a second yellow because he’d already been booked.
Rangers go and take him off at half-time and it’s kind of clear as day for me. So I’m really disappointed with that – these decisions are huge.
Aberdeen played Livingston today – it’s 0-0 – Livingston payer gets sent off and it ends up 5-0 to Aberdeen.
I’m not saying that’s what was going to happen here – but it changes the concept of the game.
Last week we got two players retrospectively sent off during the week by the SFA. We lose two players for today and then something like that happens – I just feel it’s a huge decision for the referee to not get correct.
I thought it was pretty clear – nobody was blocking views – it was 1v1 with 40 yards behind him towards the goal because there was nothing blocking his view. There wasn’t a lot of people around the area – it’s one of those things – it’s frustrating.
With Celtic to be faced next Saturday there is virtually no chance of the SFA taking retrospective action against Sands. Today was Robertson’s second match in charge of the Ibrox side in five games this season.
Will Sandra get retrospective red for that assault and miss the game against the best team in the land
Absolutely great decision by a fair, unbiased honest referee….
It doesn’t matter if he rugby tackled a player to the ground that is clear through on goal – 5min after receiving a yellow card.
These wee things even themselves out over the season.
HH
Whit dae ye mean I’m only sayin that so he plays against the Champions of Scotland….
HH
If Sands plays like that and gets turned by a nickel &dime Ross County player I want him to stay on the park as Kyogo and Jota will turn him as well but will be quicker than County player and leave Sands standing and will race away on goal and score as far as I’m concerned Sands is a liability to them,we will prove that next week and so will Liverpool after scoring 9 today against a team better than sevco.
Cheating, nothing else to say.
I would call these referees clowns but we all know its more than that. They’re trying to keep their team in contention for the league before VAR is introduced.
Their cheating makes them look incompetent, but they couldn’t care less. Mission accomplished for another week with no comeback.
If the punishment for getting easy decisions “wrong” is NOTHING. Then why try and get them correct