He should have been sent off it’s a straight red- Malky Mackay hits out at cowardly Don Robertson
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.