Some Celtic fans are very sure that Aberdeen striker Sam Cosgrove deserved to be sent off in the Hoops’ 2-1 win in the Premiership on Saturday.
Neil Lennon’s men kept their winning run going at the weekend and they have now not lost a single league game in over two months, even though they did lose to Cluj in the Europa League one week ago.
The game saw Odsonne Edouard and Christopher Jullien score a goal each to help the side to the victory. Sam Cosgrove scored for Aberdeen but was later sent off in controversial circumstances after a foul on Kristoffer Ajer (BBC).
Celtic fans: Did Cosgrove deserve a red-card?
It was a clear red card!
Never, the game's gone soft
A debate has broken out on social media about the sending off and Celtic fans feel that Cosgrove deserved to be sent off.
Makes no difference if he got the ball or not. You can’t go into a tackle like that, haven’t been allowed to for a few seasons now. Dangerous and career ending if not times correctly.
— ghosty67 (@ghosty_67) December 22, 2019
In accordance with the present rules in regard to serious foul play and punishment it is a red card all day long.
— Scott McCabe (@scomcc11) December 22, 2019
Clear red card. Sorry.
— Michael Harley (@mikey32132) December 22, 2019
You can’t jump into a tackle like that. Whether he got the ball is irrelevant.
— Martin Coyle (@honestman2709) December 22, 2019
Two feet off the ground
Reckless, if Ajer had not got out the way, both his legs would have been broken
Straight Red all day long— tom hughes (@tomanne57) December 22, 2019
He took both legs away its red porty was high he deserved red but big marv is a hero he bullied the herts and still does merry crimbo
— BGC (@bgc_brian) December 23, 2019
In today’s football it’s a red card. Both feet off the ground out of control endangering an opponent
— rab1888 (@Rab61233545) December 23, 2019
The red card against the Hoops was Cosgrove’s first of the season. So far in this campaign, the Englishman has picked up a total of seven yellow cards, with three of them coming in the Premiership.
In terms of goals, Cosgrove has impressed upfront for Aberdeen. He has played 26 times in all competitions for the club, finding the back of the net 20 times and racking up a single assist on the way.
Last season was also impressive for the 23-year-old. He played 44 times in all competitions for the club, scoring 21 times for the club. He also assisted five times. During his time at the club, he has scored 41 times in a total of 76 games.
What do we think?
It wasn’t a clear red card. But the sending off was more down to how the game has changed and technology has made it softer. Football is a game of physical contact and that happens in every game. Cosgrove didn’t get the ball but it wasn’t a studs-up challenge. The challenge, arguably, warranted a yellow card rather than the red he was shown by the referee.