Scotland midfielder reacts to controversial red card
There was fresh refereeing drama in Scottish football on Friday night after Motherwell’s Dan Casey was sent off during the 1-1 William Hill Premiership draw against Kilmarnock.
Motherwell were in front at half-time courtesy of Liam Gordon’s first goal for the club but Killie hit back through Liam Polworth. However, the main talking point came on 78 minutes as Danny Armstrong and Casey clashed.
Armstrong appeared to goad the Motherwell defender into grabbing his shirt near his neck and referee Chris Graham did not hesitate to brandish a red card. VAR got involved – presumably due to the harsh nature of the dismissal – but Graham stuck by his original decision after being called over to the pitchside monitor.
Motherwell's Dan Casey is shown a red card by referee Chris Graham. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)Motherwell's Dan Casey is shown a red card by referee Chris Graham. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Motherwell's Dan Casey is shown a red card by referee Chris Graham. (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group) | SNS Group
The decision even provoked a response from Scotland midfielder John McGinn who posted on X: “Can't watch that game anymore. Worst decision I've ever seen in my puff.”
Well boss Stuart Kettlewell told BBC Scotland: "In the game I raised a concern, we had the same referee [Chris Graham] up in Dingwall the other week and there was over 60 minutes of dead time, I felt there was probably the same amount tonight. The game needs to breathe a wee bit more.
"It becomes carnage. That’s the point we get to in the game of football. Questionable is an understatement. I always try and be honest. I am sick and fed up of it. I’ve been told there’s been three key errors in our last five games. I try to move on and hope better times are ahead then it come to tonight and it’s by far the worst of them all. It’s quite incredible.
"Him being sent to the monitor suggests he’s got it wrong. I’ve been given the heads up from Kilmarnock’s bench that this is going to be overturned. And the ref watches it several times and thinks that he’s got it right. I’m concerned for the game in this country if we’re deeming that type of thing a red card. We want it to get better. Decisions like that are not moving it forward."