Nick Walsh’s decision to send Mo Diomande off has been branded “embarrassing” by Kris Boyd, but Sky Sports sparring partner Chris Sutton hailed the under-fire whistler for taking the time to confirm a correct decision.
Diomande blasted Rangers level at Tannadice as they came from behind to win 3-1 against Dundee Utd. But the midfielder was gving his marching orders in stoppage time after an off the ball clash with Kevin Holt. Walsh was quick to flash a straight red after Diomande appeared to swing an open palm at the United defender, who was booked for his role.
But VAR beckoned Walsh over to the pitch side monitor to have another look. And after numerous replays, it looked like there was minimal contact from Diomande at best and it was hard to argue that he used any excessive force or brutality. But Walsh doubled down and stuck with his original decision, which sent Philippe Clement apoplectic on the touchline, with the Ibrox boss confirming that an appeal will be winging its way to the sixth floor at Hampden pronto. Record Sport has collected the reactions from various pundits, and no prizes for guessing who is going against the grain as Sutton forces the studio to crack up over a “painful” one.
Chris Sutton
“In Dundee and Glasgow would you say that’s violent conduct? I’m not so sure but what I would say is that you can’t slap people in the face and that’s what he does. You just can’t do that. He does slap and I think he does catch him. Nick Walsh was right on the spot there. While we can crticise him, the player has to show discipline. You can’t just go around slapping people. It’s not allowed. If you’re not sending him off for that then you’re just saying all game is a free hit.
“It’s not a good message to send that players can go around slapping other players. Nick Walsh is in a great position and he sees it and fair play to him, goes to the monitor and just double checks that he’s right. There can be appeals and statements, but they’re not going to win this.”
Kris Boyd
“Embarrassing. Embarrassing. I think when you go to the monitor you can be too stubborn and sometimes you just have to admit you got it wrong. Nick Walsh should have. There is no excessive force, there is no brutality and if I’m Rangers, I would be getting my appeal right now.
“Nick Walsh is right there and it might look as if he’s caught him. It’s inconclusive. We’re watched it about 40 times and we’re still arguing about it.
“Remember the Friday night one, Motherwell Kilmarnock with Dan Casey and Armstrong? Is that any worse than that? No and that was downgraded from a red to a yellow. It is inconclusive even if he touches him.”
Billy Dodds
“The red card is extremely harsh. I’m surprised Nick Walsh has stuck with his original decision. I thought once he got a look at it, there was no way he was giving that as a red card. And he did. I think it will be overturned.
“The one thing I’m mystified with is the amount of times VAR played the shot that Nick Walsh had because that’s why he’s sent him off. There was another angle they never played it into Nick Walsh and for me, that showed how quickly it happened. If they show you the back angle, I think Diomande is extremely unlucky to get a straight red for that.
“Yeah, you have to take into consideration what Kevin Holt did and it’s a yellow. Maybe you can give Diomande a yellow if you thought he left a hand in there but I’m not sure it’s even a slap. If you play that back angle as many times as you played in the front, I don’t think Nick Walsh sends him off. Is it enough for a straight red? No.”
Willie Miller
“It happened so quickly and to be perfectly honest, I didn’t see too much contact other than the two players having a go at each other. Kevin Holt, I think initiated it, that was my reading of it. But I didn’t see Diomande doing anything that deserved a red card, so I’m a little bit bemused.”
James McFadden
“I think the hand does come across – but Holt pushes him and it’s the faintest of touches. There is a bit of force but I don’t think it’s enough for me.”
The Ref’s View with Des Roache and Steve Conroy
“No words I’m afraid. Cannot believe anybody watching that repeatedly could decide it was violent conduct.”