Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says he mis-spoke on Friday night and the decision to send Dan Casey off against Kilmarnock is now the worst decision he has ever seen.

The Fir Park club have appealed referee Chris Graham’s decision to show the defender a straight red card following an altercation with Killie’s Danny Armstrong during a 1-1 draw on Friday night, which he upheld following a VAR review at the side of the pitch.

The Irish defender has been sent off twice this season, and Friday night’s is for violent conduct, meaning he would be facing a three-game ban. His appeal will be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon.

In a passionate interview on Friday, Kettlewell said the red card was in his top three worst decisions.

But Kettlewell now says there isn’t a decision in a game he has been involved in that is worse.

Speaking this morning, the Fir Park gaffer said: “Sometimes what you can do as a football club is see it through your own tinted goggles.

Casey was shown a straight red card after the flare-up in the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock
Casey was shown a straight red card after the flare-up in the 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock (Image: SNS Group)

“I’ve had contact from other clubs, from people who have been in the game a long, long time, people in the media, friends, family, I’ve not spoken to one individual who sees that the same way as what the outcome was on the night.

“What I’ve got that down to is one individual has seen it that way.

“In the world of football, when you start to look at the traction that has gathered, for me I think that’s wholly unacceptable. I don’t think we can ever see that scenario where it’s so cut and dried, in my opinion.

“I know there’s an appeal to be heard, and all the rest of it, but I just find it baffling.

“I said it’s in the top three worst decisions, after the game, in a game that I’ve been involved in, but on hindsight, I’ve had Saturday and Sunday to look through it again and compose myself but it’s not in the top three, it’s the worst one.

Referee Chris Graham upheld his decision even after a VAR review
Referee Chris Graham upheld his decision even after a VAR review (Image: SNS Group)

“It’s genuinely the worst one that I’ve seen. That makes it pretty apparent what the club’s feeling is on it.

“But we have to look at the bigger picture as well and it’s worldwide. That game was on the television. We’re trying to give the best account of ourselves as we possibly can.

“We didn’t play particularly well as a team, but I don’t think that type of decision does the game in this country any favours whatsoever.”

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