Long before Jack Butland was even born Harold Schumacher earned notoriety with one of the most brutal fouls ever committed at the World Cup Finals.
In the 1982 semi-final against France he absolutely wiped out Patrick Battison as the French forward, knocking him unconscious. After treatment that included receiving oxygen on the pitch it was discovered that Battison had lost two teeth and broken three ribs.
Toyosi Olusanya escaped that level of injury but the same intent was there as Butland raced from his goal intent on taking the ball and anything that stood in his way as the slow motion illustrated.
That right knee coming up. https://t.co/ZLgVop2r8n pic.twitter.com/kB2AGaf1FL
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) April 29, 2024
Nick Walsh witnessed it all, saw the intent, the raised right knee and swinging fist. The PE teacher from Bearsden decided that it was a booking offence.
A red card and two match suspension, as Yang Hyun-jun suffered away to Hearts on instruction from John Beaton last month would have been a real game changer with the Butland For England bandwagon revving up against after back to back wins.
Back at the day job, Walsh was working on the fitness of Murray Park starlets and seems certain to referee the May 11 Glasgow Derby or the Scottish Cup Final two weeks later.
In common with all of Crawford Allan’s referees, Walsh won’t be anywhere near the finals of the European Championships in Germany this summer.
Bay Face goes mad!