When the dust settles on Celtic’s win over Tynecastle, many people will look to the red card that was given to Hearts defender Alex Cochrane as a turning point in the game.
Andy Walker was very vocal on Sky Sports’ commentary in his disagreement with the decision, but former referee Dermot Gallagher said match referee, Nick Walsh got it correct.
Speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, Gallagher said, “One of my friends is a Hearts fan and he sent me a message last night saying how tough it was and he didn’t think it was right.
“But I actually think it’s a red card. And the reason it’s a red card at that point [where Cochrane touches Maeda] the defender is not going to catch the player. Cochrane brings him down. He’s [Maeda] going to head towards goal, the keeper can’t get the ball. The law says, ‘Will he get a shot away?’
“I think for the referee. I understand in normal play, why he thinks it’s a yellow card because he can’t see that. When he goes to the screen and he sees what I’ve just seen there, I just think it’s obvious it’s going to be a red card.”
Ange Postecoglou was asked about the decision post-match and the Celtic manager said himself that he thought it was a red card.
And, of course, Nick Walsh was correct. No matter how soft you think the decision was, the Hearts defender fouled Maeda as he was bearing down on goal.
The best analogy I can think of about the incident is this. If you boil an egg for three minutes and the inside is hard or soft, it doesn’t matter. It’s still a boiled egg.
Ok, that was rubbish but you get the point I am making. Cochrane fouls Maeda and that’s why he got a red. VAR did its job and no manner of teeth gnashing and complaining will change that.
The referee got the decision correct.
In other news, Ange Postecoglou’s brilliant response to BBC man’s Hearts red card v Celtic
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