David Edgar, Cameron Bell and James Tessier discussed all things Rangers on the most recent edition of the Heart and Hand podcast. During the show, the panel spent some time discussing Ryan Edwards’ controversial challenge on Alfredo Morelos during the Gers’ 4-0 Premiership win over Dundee United last Saturday.
Morelos was forced off the pitch due to injury following Edwards’ challenge. The Gers were not even awarded a free-kick, nor was Edwards given a card, for this incident. This decision has been a controversial one, with the Daily Record’s Mark McDougall writing an article in which he stated that referee Kevin Clancy ‘should have shown a red card’.
Bell shared a similar opinion to McDougall when discussing this incident during his recent appearance on the Heart and Hand podcast.
He said: “Why I think it’s a red card and why I think it’s excessive force and I think it’s deliberate is because: if you watch the challenge again – I wouldn’t even call it a challenge, it’s an attempted clearance where he leaves his foot up – he has players to the left and right of him.
“If he wanted to nip in to be able to try and just get the ball away from Morelos – who, obviously, is trying to get it past him and run on goal, he could’ve kept his foot straight and just passed to the left or right if he just wanted to dink in and do that.
“But he opens his foot up and that, for me, then looks like as if he’s then trying to show his studs, which he duly does.
“I do believe that there was intent there, and I’m in honest disbelief as to how when he looks at it, how when his linesman looks at it, there isn’t a conversation to be had.
“Even with some slight leeway given to Clancy, it’s at the very least a yellow card and it should have been a red, but to not even give a free-kick, for me, is scandalous, it’s absolutely scandalous.”
Do you think that Edwards injured Morelos intentionally?
YES
NO
TIF Thoughts…
So, as can be seen in what Bell had to say, it’s clear that he believes that Morelos’ injury could have been avoided had Edwards altered the technique that he used to make this challenge and as a result, he believes that he should have been punished.
As per the Daily Record, International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules state that: ‘A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.’
With that in mind, considering that this challenge resulted in Morelos being forced off the pitch, we feel that it is difficult to argue with Bell on this occasion and perhaps the Dundee United player should have been punished for this challenge.