Double Standards as Tavernier escapes Trusty style Justice

James Tavernier enjoyed a great stroke of good fortune to stay on the park against Kilmarnock.

David Dickinson showed far more generosity to the Ibrox skipper than Dom Thompson who was shown a red card after just four minutes.

In that instance there was no hesitation as the Renfrew based official reached for the red card to go along with the award of a penalty. A rare combination under the current Laws of the Game.

Dickinson wasn’t just loath to red card Tavernier, he failed to even award Kilmarnock a free kick. Naturally Chris Graham on VAR wasn’t going to intervene, not even with a fake review.

Tavernier had already been booked. A free kick and another yellow would have resulted in Danny Rohl’s side being reduced to 10 men.

The slow motion highlighted by Lint was also available to Graham in the VAR room, if he was inclined to review it at that level.

Killie forward Tyreece John-Jules had a chance of running onto the through ball. He wasn’t certain to reach it but his position and pace was enough to worry Tavernier.

TAVERNIER IMMUNITY ZONE

He stepped across John-Jules then lifted his left arm up to block the run of his opponent. Just for long enough to make a difference, to ensure that John-Jules didn’t have a chance to run onto the pass.

Ten days at Tynecastle a very different approach was taken by the match officials.

Pierre Landry Kabore tangled with Auston Trusty, it was awkward but no more than a booking. The ball was going wide, there were Celtic defenders running back to challenge.

Steven McLean opted for a free kick and yellow card. With John Beaton on VAR there was more to come.

The pause for the free kick was ominous. Beaton has a track record similar to Dickinson but going back further.

McLean was called over to the monitor, the consequences were obvious.

In the 77th minute Celtic were reduced to 10 men. Hearts equalised, eight minutes of stoppage time were added. The match ended 2-2.

Celtic appealed the red card which was rejected. There has been no follow up from Celtic, the audio from Tynecastle hasn’t been released.

There is no chance of the audio from Ibrox seeing the light of day.

Having refereed his favourite team four times in less than two months Dickinson and his family are hoping for the big one on March 1.

The Trinity Tims podcast will be live from 6.30pm tonight.