HEARTS manager Robbie Neilson tonight claimed that an opposition player needs to get “decapitated” for a member of the Celtic team to get red carded at Parkhead.
Neilson was furious that the Glasgow club’s left back Alexandro Bernabei was allowed to stay on the park following a rash challenge on his centre half Nathan Atkinson.
Match referee Alan Muir took no action following the first-half incident, which left the defender needing medical attention, and play continued after VAR official Nick Walsh reviewed it.
Hearts, who took the lead early on when Josh Ginnelly headed home an Andy Halliday cross, slumped to a 3-1 defeat to the Scottish champions.
Daizen Maeda equalised in the first-half and Kyogo Furuhashi and substitute Sead Haksabanovic netted in the second to wrap up the three points.
However, Neilson, whose team take on Celtic in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tynecastle on Saturday, was deeply unhappy that Bernabei was not punished.
“I thought it was a shambles the whole thing,” he said. “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 it 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. But it was nearly a leg off.
“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. In 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."
