GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 10: Referee Nick Walsh during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on January 10, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
While Ally McCoist and Peter Leven cried foul over a VAR line a serious attack on Kieran Tierney at Aberdeen last night has been largely ignored.
Sky Sports provided a replay while the defender received treatment, no-one suggested that it was a red card offense.
BBC Sportscene decided not to include the attack on the Scotland defender in their late night highlights package.
Five minutes from half-time Toyosi Olusanya was cutting in from the right wing.
Players are entitled to protect themselves, use their body to retain the ball.
They are not allowed to make an off the ball lunge at an opponent, not stamping on the foot of an opponent who isn’t challenging for the ball.
KIERAN TIERNEY UNDER ATTACK
Olusanya did exactly that. He took time away from the ball to stamp on Tierney.
Referee Nick Walsh spotted it. Awarded Celtic a free kick and booked the former St Mirren striker.
As you watch the incident being replayed, as Chris Graham did on VAR, you have to the option to intervene.
Olusanya for whatever reason decided to lash out at an opponent.
It seems that the Aberdeen forward thought that it was a risk worth taking. No red card was produced. Tierney was injured and Olusanya was able to continue with just a booking on his record.
For everyone moaning about Nygren’s onside goal…
Exhibit #2:
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) March 5, 2026
Tierney didn’t look comfortable for the remainder of the game. He was substituted in the 65th minute, at the end of the match he didn’t appear to be moving freely.
The incident is typical of Scottish football. A straight red card is a rarity.
The stamp on Tierney ultimately led to his substitution. Olusanya took one for the team, he received a yellow card to weaken his opponents.
Walsh has been having a nightmare this season. A recent VAR intervention that resulted in a red card for Richard King of St Mirren was reversed on appeal.
On this occasion he should have been assisted by VAR, only Chris Graham can explain why he didn’t recommend a pitch-side review of the attack on Tierney.
BBC Sportscene opted out of including the attack on Tierney in their highlights.
He initiated this motion as soon as he crossed into the penaly box? I am pretty sure he was trying to get his leg in front of Tierney’s to then absorb contact and go down for the pen. He did exactly that later in the game to win the pen of Scales. Either way defo dark arts being coached and should have seen red for this one.
Thats as poor atackle you will see I just hope dosent cause him games but I dont think he will play on sunday im nit sure wullie column can do anything it wasnt only foul this player commited any high punt by Aberrdeen goal keeper he just races in on centrehalf not even facing ball no way Celtic would have been given that penalty three penalties we have been given against us with players just putting there foot in and going down the one we were denied player moved his body towards the ball no way he was trying to put his arm behind him yes again If a Celtic player done it penalty and the proofs there look at the penalties against Celtic how many would have been awarded to Celtic not many
If you’ve ever kicked a football in a team – at any level – you know that was out of order,
and a straight red.
Giving the guy the benefit of the doubt that it wasn’t intentional to stamp on KT’s ankle,
the action was still reckless – and caused harm.
And yet again: what the Hell is VAR for?
Not a great performance but an important 3 points. We could have had a pen and tackle on KT was a bad one. Great atmosphere at the game and keeping the pressure on….
Has this guy Olusanya not got previous for bad tackles on our players ?
Lol at the pain and hurt and the BITCHING that fat Swally the ALKIE and Kris the klown Void loving every minute of it.
3 vital points last night,infact 3 big points which might just be enough to push us on up this hill to let us hold on to our title.
Another big challenge again this weekend,have a feeling should we win sevco fans will go ballistic in the stadium with a possible pitch invasion.
Walsh is a dirty cheating Hun and our Willie will so sweet f@#k all about it,
Crock Tierney when we’re down to the bare bones…
Sicken the rest of the team seeing no protection given…
All part of the master plan to grind down Celtic…
And it’ll eventually take its toll and work…
Kieran won’t be 100% v Sevco if he makes it at all…
Walsh can tell The Sevco Hun Colts he’s been a really good lad…
If you think that assault was bad just wait until Bloody Sunday (Scotland)…
Robertson is a hundred times more lenient than Walsh…
They’ll know what The Sheepy thug got away with and they’ll know that they can imitate that thuggery 100 fold…
We are getting fu**in MAIMED on Sunday !
Skys sinister lack of replays once again avoids ever having serious discourse about this blatant assault. Utterly shocking. Relief when KT got up and walked away with no much of an issue
Look at the way he goes in on him. It’s a clear as day. A yellow card for a studs on the ankle stamp. Mental.
Kieran should have retaliated you could guarantee that sky would show it,but they would have to show the initial tackle by Olusanya.