There were a lot of questionable calls during Celtic’s trip to Hibernian on Sunday.
From Liam Scales being punished for a handball and Hibernian being awarded a penalty to the high boot on Engels just as he scored Celtic’s second goal.
Jamie McGrath was the man whose high boot caught Engels in the face as he headed home Yang’s floated cross, seconds before Daizen Maeda had opened the scoring.
There have been some interesting views on the matter, as Dermot Gallagher compared it to an incident that occurred in La Liga last week.
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Who is your man of the match?
Jamie McGrath’s kick to Arne Engels’ face compared to Antony’s for Real Betis
In the dying moments of Real Betis’ clash against Girona last week, their star winger Antony was shown a straight red card for his high boot on Joel Roca.
Antony was trying an acrobatic overhead kick to clear the ball, and he caught Roca in the face. Shown a straight red, and then he missed Betis’ derby clash against Sevilla over the weekend.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher compared Antony’s situation to McGrath’s high boot and why there was a ‘slight difference.’
“They did look at it, because I was watching this game,” said Gallagher. “In this instance, they stuck with the referee’s decision.
“I think the referee is actually right, because Jamie McGrath actually goes to play the ball. There is no doubt about that. He actually goes to play the ball.
“He actually catches him with his knee. The difference with Antony (for Real Betis). He caught him full on with his boot into his face, so I think every case is slightly different.”
Jay Bothroyd is unsure of McGrath escaping punishment
Former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd wanted to make the point that the McGrath and Antony situations were ‘still the same’, in terms of both were going for the ball.
That’s why you have to question why the Hibs man wasn’t sent off, as Celtic secured a 2-1 win at Easter Road.
“But the principle is still the same,” stated Bothroyd. “They were both trying to go for the ball. That’s why when we spoke about the threshold.
“In lower leagues, you can get away with those kinds of things. In La Liga, you are definitely not.”
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