Former English Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has backed Willie Cobham’s decision to book Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard for diving in the Old Firm derby yesterday afternoon.
The Hoops were 1-0 up when the penalty incident occurred but Gallagher says Rangers fullback Borna Barisic had pulled his leg out of the way of the Frenchman:
“It’s not a penalty and when you see the angle he has to yellow card him. If the referee isn’t giving a penalty he has to book the player for diving. It’s difficult to tell but the referee has the best view, he’s looking at the player.”
“That’s the referee’s view and the angle shows the knees buckling, if you like, which wouldn’t say it was a trip. I think, in defence of Edouard, he sees the contact coming and he anticipates it – but the defender pulls out.”
It was a pivotal moment in the game, with the Gers going on to equalise from Alfredo Morelos later in the first half. Despite protestations from Celtic captain Scott Brown and others that it was a cast-iron penalty, a former official, who is very much a neutral observer in this case, has sided with Rangers.
The draw means Steven Gerrard’s side maintain their 20 point gap over their rivals in the table, and they have kept their unbeaten league record intact. Whether they will be able to keep it until the end of the season, we shall see.
