RICHIE Foran, the Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager, last night suggested that referee Don Robertson had lacked the bravery to send off Erik Sviatchenko, the Celtic defender, during their Ladbrokes Premiership match yesterday.
Sviatchenko bundled over Ross Draper midway through the first half in the game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium with the scoreline level at 1-1 as the Inverness midfielder bore down on Dorus de Vries in the Celtic goal.
Foran felt the clumsy challenge had taken place just outside the penalty box and had only merited a free-kick – but the Irishman was adamant that match official Robertson should have red carded the Scottish champions’ centre half.
Read more: Inverness Caledonian Thistle rage as Celtic escape punishment over Draper foul
“It was a clear free-kick which leads to a clear sending off,” he said. “It was disappointing, very disappointing. You need brave referees at times like that.
“Ross has pushed the ball in front of their player, Ross has got his body in the way and he has been wiped out. It was a clear for anyone to see. I was very disappointed not to get that decision.”
“In fairness to him (Robertson), he had a chat (after the game). He didn’t think Ross had control of the ball. Obviously, we have had the luxury of seeing it back on TV. He has made the wrong decision.”
Caledonian Thistle earned a draw thanks to a goal from substitute Alex Fisher with just over a minute of regulation time, but Foran felt the game would have been different if Sviatchenko had been ordered off for Celtic.
“It changed the whole outlook of the game without a doubt,” he said. “If they go to 10 men it gives us a big boost. As I said, it was a disappointing decision. It was quite obvious for the whole stadium to see. The only one who didn’t think it was a free-kick was the referee unfortunately.”
Draper felt that he was inside the Celtic area when he was barged over by Sviatchenko in the 32nd minute and revealed the opposition players had agreed with him that he had been fouled by the Danish defender afterwards.
“It’s a penalty,” he said. “The referee says I’m not in control of the ball. If that’s his reasoning we have to get on with it. We stuck in and got a point, but I’m disappointed we didn’t get the decision.
“If it is outside the box it’s a red card and if it is inside the box it is a yellow unless he hasn’t made an attempt to win the ball. Regardless, it’s a foul and then up to the referee to punish the player however he wants.
“It’s 100 per cent a foul and a couple of the Celtic lads said it was a foul too. We have to get on with it no matter how tough to take it is. We got a point at the end and that makes it a little bit easier to take.”
Brendan Rodgers, whose side moved three points clear at the top of the Premiership table despite dropping their first points of the 2016/17 campaign, was less certain it was a penalty and praised the performance of the match official.
“I haven’t seen it yet,” he said. “I haven’t seen it but they tell me some people have watched it eight times and they’re not sure. I thought the referee was good today.”
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