Kris Boyd didn’t hold back in his assessment of Reo Hatate’s controversial tackle during Celtic’s 2-0 victory over Kilmarnock.
The former Rangers striker was raging in his post-match analysis, declaring that both referee Nick Walsh and VAR official Don Robertson made a clear mistake in not sending Hatate off.
Boydy was fizzing with anger as he tried to convey his thoughts.
In an outburst on Sky Sports, Boyd stated, “It’s a red card. It’s a red card. It’s a red card. All day long. You can’t catch a player that far up a leg and turn round and say sorry and hope to get away with it. He catches him below the knee. Just below the knee. It’s impossible not to get sent off there. So the referee gets it wrong on the pitch and Don Robertson gets it wrong in the VAR room. That’s a red card all day long.”
🟥 “It’s a red card all day long”
🗣️ “He’s very fortunate”Kris Boyd & James McFadden on Reo Hatate’s challenge, which he was given a yellow card for ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/z5Uz0Nn7au
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 10, 2024
James McFadden backed Boyd’s view, agreeing that Hatate should have seen red for the challenge. Their strong stance contrasts with the perspective of Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes, who suggested that while the tackle looked high, the lack of force made the yellow card justifiable. McInnes noted in his post-match interview, “When it goes to VAR, I’m sure the pictures didn’t look good, but in terms of force, I’m not sure it was a red card to be honest.”
The differing opinions around the decision suggest that the call from Walsh, to not send Hatate off, was not a clear an obvious error on his part.
While Boyd’s reaction captured the frustration of those convinced it was a clear sending-off, others, including McInnes, took a more forgiving stance. The incident is sure to fuel discussion among fans and pundits as Celtic move forward from a match that ended in their favour but not without controversy.
The KMI report on Friday should clear things up…
At the time it looked like a guaranteed sending off. But Var refs look at Hatate runnin aboot like a headless chicken, chasin every baw in midfield, l (and I’m not usin the Killie piez bouncy castle surface as an excuse) but Hatate, does go in one boot raised, studs totally up. But dips his foot before contact. Was this ‘what the refs saw’? Or the comedy of errors before.
And they base it on previous foul play and Hatate isn’t know for his fowl play. But his card is marked noo though.