Only a yellow? Only in Scotland as Reo Hatate survives nasty attack
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Celtic v Rangers - Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 2, 2022 Celtic's Reo Hatate with manager Ange Postecoglou after being substituted REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
There were plenty of dubious decisions in yesterday’s Celtic win over St Johnstone.
Rather than apply the Laws of the Game it seemed that referee Euan Anderson and assistant Alastair Mather were trying to balance up Celtic’s superiority by helping St Johnstone out with most decisions.
Mather’s flag went up for offside throughout the second half the moment that Celtic looked like breaking with one decision on James Forrest woefully bad.
The same assistant mysteriously missed the swinging arm of Connor McLennan connecting with the ball in stoppage time, denying Giorgos Giakoumakis a run on goal and setting up a St Johnstone break down the left.
Only a yellow……… pic.twitter.com/AktHxvfcwl
— Mac an tSabhasaigh (@savo01) October 9, 2022
Eight minutes into the second half there was an incident that Anderson had a clear view of. Knowing that Reo Hatate was approach Max Kucheriavyi raised his left arm with his elbow connecting with the Celtic midfielder.
Bizarrely Anderson thought that was just a yellow card, St Johnstone retained 11 men on the park and almost took a point when the referee missed Andy Considine pulling the shirt of Giorgos Giakoumakis seconds before Alex Mitchell equalised.
Fortunately on Tuesday Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler will be in charge of the Champions League match against RB Leipzig. No Scottish referee has been in charge of a Champions League group stage match.