Celtic boss Martin O’Neill has hit out at red card critics in a bizarre exchange with a journalist during his pre-match Europa League press conference.
The Hoops boss was still fielding questions about Celtic defender Auston Trusty’s red card in the draw against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Celtic saw the SFA overturn an appeal to have the red card revoked, but the Parkhead club are still seeking further clarification from the national association.
Watch Martin O’Neill superbly shut down journo’s red card interrogation.
Let us know what you think of the Celtic boss taking a swing at pundits and managers about the Parkhead club's red card record.
And preparing for Celtic’s Europa League fixture against Utrecht, the Parkhead gaffer was again quizzed by a persistent journalist inside Paradise.
Martin O’Neill refuses to get drawn in on Celtic red card row
Celtic boss O’Neill was calm and composed as he expertly batted away a journalist’s incessant questions about the red card.
And even when the Celtic manager admitted he knew nothing about the appeal, that didn’t stop the reporter from going on.
O’Neill said on BBC Sport Scotland, “The referee’s decision in the first place, a yellow card. I didn’t think it was clear and obvious.
“And it was nice to get backing from a lot of referees who have refereed a lot of big, big matches, and they were interviewed afterwards. But it is what it is.”
Journalist: “Also notice the club statement said you would be self to be taken having further discussions with the SFA. I just wondered to what end that would be?”
O’Neill: “I didn’t know about that. Sorry. I wasn’t aware to other decisions. No, I don’t know a thing about that. What do you think it was?”
Journalist: “I’m not sure. I just read it said some other decisions, and I was like, but I wonder what they are. So maybe it points to the kind of discontent with refereeing in general in Scotland?”
Martin O’Neill slaps down managers and pundits Celtic digs
Celtic fans had to listen to pundits like Kris Boyd and managers like Derek McInnes take unprofessional swipes at their club over their red card record in recent times.
And O’Neill took this opportunity to take a swing back as he slammed what he’s been hearing said about Celtic in the media.
O’Neill: “Well, you make up your own mind there? It’s never been a problem before. I’ve never had a problem with it.
“In my first spell away here, 25 years ago, never had a problem and so on.
John Collins hammers Ally McCoist’s take on Auston Trusty’s red card.
What would you say to McCoist? Let us know in the comments.
“I just expected no decisions to come our way. It’s interesting, now I see managers and pundits all talking about ‘I was surprised to see Celtic getting a red card’, which did make me laugh, because I think our disciplinary record is actually very good for me.”
The red card storm rumbles on, but for Celtic, the Europa League beckons tonight as Utrecht visit Parkhead.
The chance for automatic qualification for the knock-out stages awaits O’Neill and he was clearly in no mood to allow the red card controversy to distract from that.
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