Tam Courts insists Celtic’s Reo Hatate should have been sent off on Monday night - however the Dundee United boss does not want retrospective punishment dished out.
The Hoops star caught Tangerines full-back Kieran Freeman with a late challenge in the first half of the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tannadice.
Hatate was shown a yellow card by referee John Beaton with Courts certain the player should have been dismissed.
However, the United head coach admits it would be hypocritical of him to demand a retrospective ban after seeing what his own player Calum Butcher suffered earlier in the season when he was “hung, drawn and quartered” by pundits after a controversial tackle on Celtic ’s David Turnbull.
Courts said: “I remember remonstrating on the side of the pitch at the time of Hatate’s challenge. I did feel there were some similarities to the Calum Butcher tackle that was retrospectively looked at.
“I’ve taken a look back and I don’t think there was any malice in it. But there is no doubt, in the modern game and under current rules, it was a red card.
“The referee has taken a different viewpoint and we have to move on from it.”
Butcher eventually received a three-match ban for his challenge on Turnbull with Courts adding: “I understand player care is really important but the thing I didn’t like about the Calum Butcher situation was the furore that was attached to his tackle.
“He was hung, drawn and quartered externally. That’s the thing that disappoints me.
“When potentially over-zealous tackles are committed by non Celtic or Rangers players against the Old Firm, the furore attached is terrible.
“I remember feeling at the time that Calum was victimised. I don’t want that for Hatate. He probably should have been sent off but there are so many things that happen in a game.
“I’d be being a hypocrite if I wanted Hatate retrospectively banned. I didn’t want the furore around Calum Butcher and don’t want it now.”
United return to league business tomorrow with a trip to Paisley to face St Mirren with the seventh-placed Tangerines - who are just one point behind Hibs in fourth - desperate to break back into the top six with just three games left before the split.
Courts said: “The excitement levels are building. You have a raft of teams in the league who are out to play each other and the league table is going to change on a week-to-week basis.
“From a neutral perspective, it’s going to be a really exciting period. From the staff and players it’s great to be involved in such a key point of the season.
“We have to be very positive and optimistic and target three points on Saturday that will catapult us closer to the top six.”
