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Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Some Celtic fans not happy with Aaron McGowan challenge on Callum McGregor
With plenty made of the Leigh Griffiths incident from Sunday, some Celtic fans aren’t pleased with one particular challenge from Hamilton’s Aaron McGowan.
There has been plenty reported regarding the Griffiths’ apparent “stamp” on Sam Woods. A panel of experts today didn’t come to the conclusion that it was a red card offence either (Glasgow Times). Yet it seems to be the main talking point regardless of where you turn. The Daily Record even published an article providing every pundit’s verdict on it.
Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths (Paul Ursachi/MB Media/Getty Images)
Yet later on in the first half, McGowan went right through McGregor with a high challenge on him. The big defender didn’t take the ball, and instead went right through the Celtic midfielder in a painful-looking collision.
Below is a still image of the challenge, followed by some supporters’ reaction to it:
Horrendous tackle today in the SPL
League leaders #Celtic Callum McGregor on the other side of this tackle
Should #Var be introduced to the Scottish League? #SPL pic.twitter.com/vy0N0Cz2S0
— Instant Football (@InstantFootbal4) February 2, 2020
So everyone’s just going to ignore the blatantly obvious red card that McGowan should’ve gotten for that challenge on McGregor? As far as I can tell, Leigh lost his balance but it’s open to interpretation. There’s no debate on the McGregor challenge. https://t.co/ccBLY8f6Xv
— Erin McCormack (@erinxmccormackk) February 3, 2020
Perhaps Griffiths could have been sent off. But let’s not pretend Accies shouldn’t have had a second red card for McGowan’s tackle on McGregor. People don’t want to look at the entire game because it doesn’t suit the narrative. https://t.co/Oef8tE4jWA
— Aidan (@AMc88_) February 3, 2020
Any disciplinary action for the boy Mcgowan for that horrific tackle on McGregor??
— Gil (@shaun_gil) February 4, 2020
Aaron McGowan a lucky boy to still be on the pitch, he was very high on Callum McGregor there.
— Inside The SPFL (@AgentScotland) February 2, 2020
Technically, “by the letter of the law” it’s a red, but the tackle by McGowan on McGregor was far more of a red.
— Marko (@Markobhoy) February 2, 2020
Any thoughts about McGowan foul on McGregor, Tom? Far more dangerous than Griffiths action, sorry “stamp”.
— Donald Cowey (@DonaldCowey) February 3, 2020
Griffiths incident
Nick Walsh – Yellow Card
BT Sport Ref – Yellow Card
Dermot Gallagher on Sky – Yellow CardNo mention of potential Red for shin high tackle on McGregor by McGowan 🤔
— Gary Thomson (@garybhoytommo) February 4, 2020
If McCoist is drawing similarities between Griffiths and Morelos let’s also compare Christie and McGowan – #Hamilton right back should have walked for challenge on McGregor @btsportfootball #CelticFC
— citlecevoli (@citlecevoli) February 2, 2020
Nowhere near the same level of coverage
It’s crazy to think that there wasn’t anywhere near close to the same level of coverage between the Griffiths incident and the McGowan one.
Sure, you can see why the Griff case has dragged out. With disciplinary action being involved then the story obviously has longer legs. McGowan’s challenge couldn’t be upgraded to a red card as referee Nick Walsh spotted the incident and had already given a yellow card.
However, if there’s going to start being widespread debates about whether the Griffiths case is a red, why isn’t there a similar spotlight on this one?
Callum McGregor (Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
You can see some of our fans’ frustrations above, and they’re quite right. McGowan’s foot is extremely high on McGregor and could’ve done some real damage to him. Thankfully, McGregor simply got up and got on with the game, but that’s more to do with his own mentality than a lack of danger in the challenge.
So where are the articles detailing every pundit’s view on whether that tackle was a red card? It’s disappointing considering some of the criticism Griff has had to take and the spotlight put on him over the last couple of days.
Even if McGowan couldn’t have had any retrospective action taken, he’s a lucky lucky man to have stayed on the pitch regardless.
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