The Incident
Early in the second half of Sunday's Scottish Cup encounter, Celtic looked to break at pace through frontman Daizen Maeda.
The Japanese international sped away from a challenge before Kemar Roofe lunged and brought him down on the halfway line.
Referee Bobby Madden quickly awarded a free kick and flashed Roofe a yellow card.
What was said?
Chris Sutton and Kevin Thomson clashed live on air over the challenge with both Premier Sports pundits sharing a differing view.
Sutton felt the foul was worthy of a red card, but Thomson felt the yellow handed out was enough.
The Kelty Hearts boss said: "That's a shocker really, I don't like to see that."
Sutton then responded: "I'll tell you, that's a red card."
Thomson then continued "I'm not so sure that's a red..." before Sutton hit back with "Where has he caught him?".
"It's just a yellow card. It's just a professional foul, Chris," Thomson said. "He has just taken one for the team, it ain't malicious. He has just taken one for the team and clipped his ankle."
"He clipped his heel on his shin," Sutton then quipped. "We have seen the pictures."
Thomson got the last word in, adding: "He's not trying to play the ball. It's a professional foul. Maeda is driving away."
The Rule
A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off:
• denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offence (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)
• denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent whose overall movement is towards the offender’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick (unless as outlined below)
• serious foul play
• biting or spitting at someone
• violent conduct
• using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
• receiving a second caution in the same match
• entering the video operation room (VOR)
A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.
Serious foul play
A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.
The Verdict
As stated above in the IFAB laws of the game, Roofe's tackle was not worthy of a red card because it was firstly not denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The challenge also did not use excessive force and endanger Maeda as he attempted to break. Roofe slid in from behind and made sure to bring him down with the side of his foot instead of leading with his studs.
In conclusion, Madden was right to only show Roofe a yellow card for the professional foul.
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