Celtic’s win over Ross County ended the week on a high for the fans who were still reeling from the Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
In a game that was devoid of any real controversy, Brendan Rodgers’ team picked up a crucial three points ahead of a two-week international break to send the Celtic fans home happy from Ross County.
However, there were two incidents in the game where Nicolas Kuhn could have found himself in hot water as the Celtic winger battled and scored the eventual Celtic winner against Don Cowie’s team.
The Celtic winger got into a small exchange with Ross County’s Connor Randall and both players were booked after VAR ruled out a possible headbutt.
However, it was Kuhn’s celebration with the Celtic fans that caused the biggest talking point at the final whistle yesterday afternoon.
Dermot Gallagher believes the Celtic support saved Nicolas Kuhn from a red card
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former FIFA referee, Dermot Gallagher, has delivered his verdict on whether he felt Kuhn should have seen red for his late celebrations with the Celtic fans.
Gallagher said, “I think what saves him is that the crowd runs into him as well. He doesn’t actually go across the hoardings.
“It’s a matter of do they think he’s incited as such like? In that case, they [the Celtic supporters] are already across.
“And in that case, it’s very difficult to say he had done that because the supporters are already there.”
The decision by the match referee, Kevin Clancy to not send off Celtic’s Kuhn was backed by former SFA referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy after they cited the IFAB Law that made it clear that celebrating with fans after scoring a goal is not a mandatory yellow card.
Brendan Rodgers plays down Celtic flashpoint
Celtic’s 87th-minute winner at Dingwall sealed a crucial three points and had the Bhoys found themselves a man down, that could have put that win at risk.
Brendan Rodgers was asked about the decision not to send off Kuhn and whether or not he was worried Celtic would have been reduced to ten men.
Speaking post-match, Rodgers simply said, “No, I never thought of it. I never noticed it.”
Celtic have been subject to a number of controversial VAR and refereeing decisions over the past few seasons and Rodgers will be happy that common sense, as well as applying the rules of the game, prevailed.
With a two-week international break now on the go, the Celtic boss can now focus on resting his team ahead of a crucial point of the season where a top-of-the-table clash with Aberdeen looms as well as crucial Champions League fixtures.
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