Mohamed Diomande is the next Rangers player to offer his ill-thought-out opinion on whether or not Celtic defender Auston Trusty should have saw red at Hampden.
Trusty’s challenge on Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland has been much discussed since Celtic beat the Ibrox club in the Premier Sports Cup semi final at Hampden.
The Celtic result has been overshadowed by the controversy, especially when Rangers pundits like Billy Dodds go over the top with their analysis of the incident.
Dodds claimed Trusty ‘raked’ his studs down Butland’s face which is an inflammatory statement against the Celtic defender that was simply untrue.
And now, Rangers’ Mohamed Diomande has thrown his tuppence in and, in truth, he really has a cheek considering what he has gotten away with against Celtic over the years.
- READ MORE: Mark Guidi shares two managers who ‘will’ become the next Celtic boss if it’s not Martin O’Neill
Mohamed Diomande’s cheek about his red card record after Trusty Celtic comments
Speaking ahead of Rangers’ Europa League clash with Roma, Diomande was asked about Thelo Aasgaard’s red card against Celtic and what he said will make the Hoops support laugh.
Diomande said on Rangers TV, “Obviously there some things that happen in the game and I won’t say he didn’t really speak about that.
“I mean, it happens to some players who are not really used to that. Like, that was my first like red card [vs Dundee United] also for Thelo and I think if he’s going to look back he’s not going to maybe put his leg out.
“Maybe it was the adrenaline that happened, and I mean there are some things that happen that we can’t really control.
“I mean the manager didn’t really talk about it because it doesn’t happen to players like me and Thelo, you know.”
That is quite the statement from Diomande and we would suggest, as we will further down the article, that the reason the Rangers midfielder rarely gets sent off is because the referees and VAR ‘miss’ his off the ball antics.
Diomande cries about missed Celtic ‘red card’ vs Rangers
And as for Trusty’s challenge on Butland, the Rangers midfielder has a shameless take on the incident.
Diomande continued, “I mean, from where I saw the tackle on Jack’s face, for me, I think what I feel, I think it was a red card. I don’t know why you feel. So, do you think it’s a red card also?
“Yeah. So like I said before, it’s the referees decision and maybe if this is happening often maybe there’s a question you can ask. I’m not the one can give that answer.
“Maybe, you know, the right people can give the answer but for me, personally, I think from the angle I saw I think it was it was quite a bad tackle.
“But he made a decision, and yeah, like I said, the club made a statement and I hope they’re going to find the answers to to the decision he made.”
So why exactly are Diomande’s comments shameless? Well, let’s take a look at what he has gotten away with in recent Celtic games against Rangers.
Four missed instances Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande could have been sent off vs Celtic
Diomande has to be one of the most antagonistic off-the-ball Rangers players in recent Glasgow Derbies so here, 67 Hail Hail looks at what the midfielder has gotten away with on four separate occasions:
- 25.05.2024: Celtic 1 v 0 Rangers. On a yellow card in the Scottish Cup final, Diomande deliberately kicks Diazen Maeda in the stomach and escapes a second booking.
- 15.12.2024: Celtic 3 v 3 Rangers. Celtic win the League Cup on penalties, but not before Diomande goes in with his knee and connects with Alistair Johnston’s head.
- 01.09.2024: Celtic 3 v 0 Rangers. When the ball is out of play, Diomande clothes-lines Alistair Johnston off the ball and escapes any form of punishment.
- 01.09.2024: Celtic 3 v 0 Rangers: Diomande slams his elbow into the back of Reo Hatate’s head. Free kick awarded, no punishment.
Hopefully, the Rangers midfielder is as vociferous in his demands for investigations the next time he is caught delivering some cheap off-the-ball shots towards Celtic players in the next derby.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
