Robbie Neilson insists rivals teams need to have a man DECAPITATED to get a red card at Celtic Park.
The Hearts manager was left furious at Hoops defender Alexandro Bernabei getting let off the hook for a first half challenge on Nathanial Atkinson in his side’s 3-1 defeat in Glasgow. Referee Alan Muir didn’t clock the initial incident but VAR official Nick Walsh took another look and decided no action was required.
But Neilson hit out and said: “I thought it was a shambles the whole thing. The first time I’ve ever seen no yellow card but it goes to a VAR for serious foul play. I’m sure Alan will see it tonight and be disappointed by his own decision and, secondly, that he wasn’t asked to go and look at the VAR screen because I think if he goes and sees it, it’s maybe a different decision and a different outcome.
“Usually when you come to Parkhead, you need decapitation before they get a red card against them. It wasn’t to be today. It was nearly a leg off.”
Neilson insisted both officials will feel they made the wrong call at the Bernabei flashpoint. The Jambos gaffer wanted Muir to have a look himself rather than go along with his video assistant.
He said: “There was a really bad tackle and the referee never booked him, and it went to VAR. Look, it’s happened, I’m sure Alan will be really disappointed by it. It’s not really his fault.
“My opinion he’s got to at least book him. But you’ve got to think VAR’s got to go ‘Alan go and have a look at that, see what you think.’ And it might have been different. You will all see it and go….hmmm.
“You’re guess is as good as mine. To be honest, just make the right decision. Have consistency in it. For me, if it is serious foul play, go and have a look at it.”
Neilson was fuming at the red card call but wasn’t down about his side’s display ahead of another meeting in the Scottish Cup at Tynecastle this weekend. He said: “There were a lot of positives to take. For 80 minutes we were outstanding.
"The players put Celtic under a massive amount of pressure and you could see the crowd starting to turn. But we got beaten and we want to come here and win."
READ NEXT
