BBC pundit Michael Stewart has defended Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths, and claimed that he didn’t deserve to be sent off at Hamilton yesterday.
Griffiths was involved in an incident with Sam Woods at the Fountain of Youth stadium. Celtic ran out 4-1 winners to go seven points clear at the top of the Premiership, but some feel Griffiths should’ve been sent off for a stamp. Instead, however, our star-man only received a booking for getting involved in a heated debate with Alex Gogic.
Hamilton coach Guillaume Beuzelin wasn’t happy about the decision and is just one of a number of people to have critised it (Daily Record).
However, speaking on Sportscene last night (BBC Scotland, 02/02, 19:40), Stewart was quick to defend the Celtic star.
“I think the referee’s called it right. You can see there the defender’s hand is on Leigh Griffiths’ foot a little bit and he loses his balance.
“I think he still knows what he’s doing, he could have moved his foot, he could have planted it elsewhere, but I don’t think there’s enough force in it and I don’t think it’s a stamp.
“Did he mean it? Yeah. But the thing is if it’s not excessive force I think the referee’s called it right.”
No excessive force and certainly not an act of brutality
The incident has been totally blown out of proportion at this point. You would think that Griffiths had really went to town on Woods, yet there really was not a lot in it.
Woods certainly grabs Griffiths’ foot and you can see that it takes him off balance. Stewart is probably right to say that Griff knows what he’s doing, but a red card? Come on, let’s not be too ridiculous.
There were certainly some meaty challenges throughout the game that were eyebrow-raising. There was Aaron McGowan on Callum McGregor in the first half, before Alex Gogic had a nasty one in on Odsonne Edouard.
Yet instead we, of course, keep having to come back to an incident involving a Celtic player. Stewart, refreshingly, is clearly speaking with his sensible head on. It seems as though you can get a red card for just about anything now.
But we know that most of the people who want to keep bringing the Griffiths incident up are simply furious that we got the job done yesterday. Another three points and another extension of our lead at the top.
So perhaps we can forgive our opposition fans for their fear and desire to try and spin things in a way that looks like we’re lucky. We all know the truth, and clearly so does Stewart.
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