Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on the two flashpoints in the Rangers and Celtic games on Sunday.
The first was the most controversial, with Livingston striker Dolly Menga appearing to throw a headbutt at Celtic’s Ryan Christie.
The second was the two yellow cards that led to Motherwell being reduced down to 10 men ahead of their 7-1 thrashing by Rangers.
Craig Thomson sent off Carl McHugh in the 34th minute of the game with the score at 1-1.
Talking on Sky Sports, as quoted in the Scottish Sun, Gallagher said he was happy the refs got it right both times.
On the Menga incident Gallagher said, “I watched this game live and I thought the referee did ever so well in this incident.
“It was just two players trying to get positioned and it was just a petulant act and one the referee dealt with quite well.”
And Gallagher said that McHugh was right to go. “I think both were yellow cards to be honest.
“I think the first one he has gone in from behind and hasn’t got the ball, he’s caught Morelos late.
“The second one he has handled the ball in the penalty area.
“He’s deliberately handled the ball, arms above his head, blocked the ball and the ref has given a penalty and a second yellow card.”
OPINION
The McHugh yellow cards aren’t really being disputed by anyone. Even the Motherwell manager, who had said the first yellow was “embarrassing” climbed back on it when he’d seen the tackle again and said his player deserved to walk. You can see the effect on the game the red card had though. The score was 1-1 at the time and Rangers ran out 7-1 winners against the 10 men. The Menga incident seems far less cut and dried. Brendan Rodgers is convinced the player should have seen red but sometimes it’s good that referees apply some common sense to a situation. There’s every chance that the Menga sending off would have had a huge impact on a game that ended up 0-0. Consistency is important, but we’re with Gallagher than not every act that looks bad on camera should result in an automatic red card. Menga was stupid but keeping him on the pitch was probably the right call. We doubt Rodgers will share that view though.