Michael Stewart slams Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos for red card v Hibs
Michael Stewart slams Alfredo Morelos for getting sent off at a crucial juncture in the Rangers v Hibernian clash on Saturday.
He believes that on a bad afternoon for referee Willie Collum, brandishing a red card to the Colombian was one decision he got right.
However, he disagrees with the call to give John Lundstram his marching orders.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, Stewart said, “The sending off of Lundstram, the fact he’s given the red card means people can then debate and say ‘he’s lunged in, he’s this and that’.
“John Lundstram is making that tackle because he knows he’s getting a yellow card. He’s stopping an attack and getting a yellow card. It’s not a red card. It’s simply not.
“If Willie Collum brandished a yellow, nobody would be saying it’s a red. And I will tell you what else, Jake Doyle Hayes wiped out Lundstram in the first half with a similar incident and he came in from the side in a scissors tackle. It was very similar, arguably worse and he didn’t get sent off.
“Alfredo Morelos’ sending off, there’s no question. Morelos’ red card was the one decision Willie Collum got right. Absolute madness. It’s a red card all day long.”
Shocking officiating
For once, we agree with Stewart and appreciate the fact that he can be unbiased.
Morelos’ sending off was justified and it was naive from the Colombian to do something like that when the team is leading by a narrow margin and are already down to ten men.
He’s got enough experience to know that it wasn’t the right thing to do and will have been kicking himself back in the dressing room.
As for Lundstram, that was a pointless decision and one that should be rescinded once the appeal is lodged and the incident is viewed again.
In no world is that anything more than a yellow card and even if it’s overturned, Rangers are not going to get two points added to their total.
We’re disappointed that VAR is not in place earlier this season as they would definitely have overturned that decision.
In other Rangers news, Celtic and the Gers are at loggerheads over a record-breaking SPFL midfielder and a bid for him has already been tabled.