‘Crude’ – Journalist hits out over claims about Rangers star after win v St Johnstone
Courier sports writer Eric Nicolson has hit out at claims that Rangers forward Kemar Roofe was trying to protect the ball when he escaped a potential red card against St Johnstone on Wednesday night.
Steven Gerrard’s side earned a 1-0 victory in the Premiership, meaning they need just six more wins to wrap up their 55th league title.
However, the midweek match was not without controversy when Murray Davidson was forced off the pitch after a challenge from Roofe.
BBC Sportscene pundit Shelley Kerr claimed Roofe was trying to “protect and shield the ball” as his foot came down on Davidson’s ankle.
However, The Courier’s St Johnstone correspondent Nicolson isn’t having any of it.
As quoted on The Courier’s website, he said: “Forget this nonsense about Roofe protecting or shielding the ball.
“The best in the business at doing that was Kenny Dalglish and you would never have seen him going over the top in this sort of reckless fashion.
“It was a crude, high and out-of-control challenge and intent – or lack of it – is a red herring.”
No whataboutery
We’re all guilty of it.
If something goes in our favour and people call it out, it’s natural to respond with ‘what about this?’.
What about Scott Brown’s elbow on Aaron Tshibola on Wednesday night? What about Curtis Main’s studs-up challenge on Borna Barisic earlier in the season? What about Darren McGregor’s stamp on Glen Kamara?
They all should have been red cards and guess what, Roofe was fortunate to have not been sent off too.
We kind of agree with Nicolson when he says that a matter of intent is a “red herring”.
Most of the time, players do not mean to cause harm to their opponents but with how fast the game is and how fast the ball moves and players move, sometimes ugly challenges are unavoidable.
We don’t believe for one moment that Roofe meant what he did. When has he ever suggested he’s that kind of player?
He’s suffered plenty of injuries in his career to know what harming another player is not something he wants to do.
But it was reckless and it did endanger an opponent. We don’t think that can be argued.
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