Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on key flashpoint incidents involving Celtic and Rangers at Hampden.
The national stadium took centre stage this weekend as the both clubs secured safe passage to the League Cup Final to set up an Old Firm derby next month. The Hoops, holders of the competition, defeated Kilmarnock 2-0 in miserable conditions on Saturday evening before Michael Beale landed a spot in his first final as Light Blues boss after Kemar Roofe's extra-time winner against Aberdeen.
However, both games throw up some talking points with incidents from both semi-finals given the 'Ref Watch' treatment. First up was a penalty that was not given during the game for Kilmarnock after an alleged foul from Giorgos Giakoumakis on Joe Wright, who would then go up the other end to wrap up the game in the 95th minute for the Hoops. In the other game Anthony Stewart was handed a straight red card for a challenge on Fashion Sakala in added-time at the end of 90 minutes with Liam Scales then left angered by Ryan Kent just minutes later with Celtic hero Chris Sutton believing he will be 'very lucky' to escape retrospective action.
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Giving his view on the incidents during his 'Ref Watch' segment on Sky Sports, the former English Premier League whistler said: "The clue is the ball. Where is the ball. I think he [Giakoumakis] has taken a massive risk and got lucky. It think it should be a penalty."
On Stewart's red card tackle, he said: "Sheer intensity and aggression of the tackle. I watched this game and he said to the referee 'I got the ball'. I think he didn't get the ball but even if he had that would have been an added bonus."
On Kent's incident with Scales, he added: "Well this is a tough one for the referee. It is behind his back and the VAR looks at it. I don't think he swipes like Liam says he does. He flicks out at him but it is not a punch. So I think if the referee had seen it he would probably have gotten a yellow card. But I don't think he would have got a red."
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