DERMOT Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, has opined that Nick Walsh was correct in issuing a red card to Alex Cochrane during Sunday’s title-winning match for the Hoops. 

Nick Walsh
Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Heart of Midlothian v Celtic – Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain – May 7, 2023 Heart of Midlothian’s Alex Cochrane is shown a red card by referee Nick Walsh REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Gallagher discussed the decision with Sky Sports VAR watch, and concluded that Cochrane should have been sent off

It’s had pundits up and down the country debating the call, with Chris Sutton against the sending off and Andy Walker would stop going on and on about the decision until after full-time. However, Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Scott Allan agreed that the correct decision was made by VAR.

Dermot Gallagher said: [Football Scotland]

“One of my friends is a Hearts fan and he sent me a message last night saying he didn’t think it was right but I actually think it was a red card.

“If you go sideways, stop there. At that point the defender is not going to catch the player. Cochrane brings him down, he’s gonna head towards goal, keeper can’t get the ball. The law says will he get a shot away?

“I think for the referee I understand in normal play why it’s a yellow card because he can’t see that. He goes to the screen he sees what I’ve seen and I think obviously it’s going to be a red card.”

How there has been so much debate about the last man denying goal-scoring opportunity is beyond me; then again, we live in Scotland.

Maeda was through on goal, and had the opportunity to have a clear shot at goals, or even square it to Kyogo who was darting through the middle unmarked and would’ve had an open goal to aim for.

1 COMMENT

  1. It was the wrong decision, was only a yellow. If it had gone against us , every Celts fan would be saying it wasn’t a Red Card . We got a break there .

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