The late tackle on Kieran Tierney that forced the defender to receive treatment has been clarified by the Scottish FA, with refereeing chief Willie Collum stating the challenge did not reach the threshold required for a red card.
The flashpoint occurred in the closing stages of Celtic’s Scottish Cup tie against Dundee F.C. at Celtic F.C.’s home ground. Tierney was struck by a high boot from Cameron Congreve, with studs catching him in the face and prompting immediate concern.
As a precaution, he was substituted, though subsequent tests confirmed there was no concussion and he returned for the midweek league fixture against Livingston.
The incident angered sections of the support, with many pointing to the red card shown to Yang Hyun-jun at Tynecastle in a previous campaign for a similar high boot — a decision some felt involved less force than the one on Tierney. On this occasion, however, only a yellow card was issued.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Collum explained the thinking behind the call. He noted that while contact to the face can warrant serious punishment, the refereeing team and VAR judged the challenge to be reckless rather than dangerous enough to constitute serious foul play.
Collum outlined that officials assess several factors, including speed, intensity, distance covered, point of contact, and whether the opponent’s safety was endangered. In this case, he said the use of the top of the boot and the overall nature of the challenge met the criteria for a caution but did not justify a dismissal.
Although the explanation sheds light on the decision-making process, it is unlikely to appease all Celtic supporters, particularly given comparisons to previous red-card incidents. Ultimately, the officials determined the tackle amounted to recklessness — punishable by yellow — rather than the excessive force required for a sending-off under the laws of the game.
Leave a Reply