Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin questioned how Marvin Bartley can work as a pundit while being assistant of a Premiership club as he hit back at Luis 'Duk' Lopes' critics. The Dons boss jumped to the defence of his star after he found himself at the centre of a diving storm. The Portuguese frontman was awarded a controversial spot kick following a VAR intervention for the Reds opening goal in their 4-1 win over Hibs at Pittodrie on Friday.
Duk has come under fire with claims he was already going down before David Marshall caught him and Livingston No. 2 Bartley, speaking on BBC's Sportscene, said: “It’s a dive for me.” Goodwin is adamant, though, that it was a penalty and his player had been caught. He also stated if it had been a dive then he would have had a go at Duk.
Goodwin insisted: "I would defend my players to the hilt. If he was a diver then I would be having strong words with him. My players aren’t encouraged to dive. I have heard comments from some people saying that they look for those situations. We don’t. When you watch it from behind the goal you can see that Marshall’s left shoulder smashes into Duk’s knee. The VAR referee thought it was a penalty. The referee on the night thought it was a penalty. But that’s the world we live in. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.”
Bartley and fellow pundit Stuart Kettlewell both thought Duk was on his way down before there was any contact. Goodwin has no issue with Bartley, who will be in the opposition dugout when the Dons travel to the Tony Macaroni Arena. Goodwin, however, has questioned how current players and coaches can be pundits and still give an honest assessment.
Goodwin stated: “If the panel on Sportscene thought it wasn’t then I’m not going to fall out with anyone over it. I’m just glad the decision went in our favour. I have no issue with Marvin. When you are an employee of a club in the same league then sometimes I question how current players and current managers can be pundits and give an honest assessment because you do run the risk of getting yourself in trouble.”
Goodwin was hammered by the Scottish Football Association after he made comments about His star Ryan Porteous earlier in the season. He will serve the final match of his ban at Livingston but is not looking for Bartley to be pulled up.
He added: “But I’m not going to be sitting here and asking the compliance officer to take a look at what Marvin has said. I’m not bothered personally as a manager. As a club we are a little bit disappointed that one of our players has been called out like that when the verdict on the night from two qualified referees was that it was a penalty. Everything is open to opinion. And if that’s Marvin’s opinion we don’t have a problem with it.”
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