Pundit Hugh Keevins has recently criticised John Kennedy’s comments which were aimed at referee Nick Walsh following the Old Firm.
The Hoops lost the Old Firm derby 4-1 but the result came in the light of Callum McGregor’s sending off in the first half. The Scotsman picked up two yellow cards within the space of two minutes to hand Celtic a disadvantage (as per The Guardian).
After the game, Kennedy talked about McGregor’s sending off, slamming referee Walsh for the decision. Kennedy believes that there was nothing reckless about the second tackle and he criticised the decision-making for a lack of consistency (as per The Daily Record).
Was Kennedy right to criticise Walsh?
Yes
No
During his appearance on Superscoreboard, Keevins was talking about Kennedy’s comments and he believes that the Scotsman’s opinion is wrong and Kennedy shouldn’t be pointing at the fact that Walsh is still young.
The pundit said (54:31): “He is wrong. And he’s wrong to draw attention to the fact that Nick Walsh is a young official. Of course, he has to learn and he will have other Old Firm games to come. But you always have to have your first. So that lack of experience is neither here nor there.
“When John Kennedy was a very young player, Celtic put him in the first team because he had the potential to be an outstanding player. So no one said it at that time ‘oh no, he’s too young to play’, the young play because they’re good enough.
“Nick Walsh refereed the game because his employers think he was good enough. And I think John, of course is entitled to bring up his personal belief, but my personal belief is that both yellow cards were justified. And it’s wrong to draw attention to Nick Walsh.”
TIF Thoughts on McGregor’s sending off…
Kennedy made it clear that McGregor’s sending off was ‘very harsh’, but the fact that McGregor got two yellow card in the space of two minutes shows that perhaps there was a lack of awareness in him in the game.
The 27-year-old has played in multiple Old Firm derbies and he’s played multiple times for the Hoops over the years. For a player as experienced as him to take a chance after getting booked isn’t great and perhaps, Kennedy should bat an eye at McGregor’s inability to control himself too.
In other news: ‘Go out and get him’ – Journalist urges Celtic to atone for 2018 ‘blunder’