Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was in the Sky Sports studio today to assess the challenge by Callum Butcher on David Turnbull against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday afternoon. The United player should have seen red for a scandalously dangerous challenge on the young Celtic midfielder, but as usual the referee did not protect Ange Postecoglou’s players.
This comes after the game against Hearts last Thursday night, when Barrie McKay stuck it on Anthony Ralston only two minutes into the game at Parkhead. That particular incident didn’t even merit a booking according to referee, Bobby Madden. A somewhat regular occurrence from the divide man in black.
Now an ex-professional who refereed at the highest levels in the game had his say on the disgraceful challenge from the Dundee United player Butcher. Gallagher insisted that the only card appropriate for that challenge was red – as if the whole of the stadium on Sunday didn’t see that except Don Robertson!
The former referee also claimed the challenge was a potential ‘leg-breaker’ for Celtic player Turnbull. It is now an expected facet to the game in Scotland when it comes to Celtic. Successive decisions seem to let those who try to hurt Celtic players in the SPFL off lightly, if chastised at all.
Surely the Compliance Officer will… oh wait…he exists and he’s conferring with the panel.
Have a look at Dermot Gallagher assess the tackle on David Turnbull…
Paul Gillespie
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