Ex Premier League referee assesses under the radar Celtic vs Rangers incident as Hoops star branded 'reckless'
Incident took place seconds after kick-off at Celtic Park
Former English Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg branded Celtic striker Camilo Duran ‘reckless’ following his late challenge on Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin just seconds into the Old Firm Derby.
The Colombian left one on his Belgian counterpart just after the visitors kicked-off. As Raskin launched the ball forward, Duran jumped to block - but left a leg outstretched to make sure he caught the midfielder in a ‘let him know you’re there’ type-challenge on his descent. The incident wasn’t picked up by the Sky Sports cameras as referee John Beaton awarded Rangers a free kick.
History tells us that referees are perhaps more lenient than normal when it comes to the early stages of an Old Firm Derby. However, Clattenburg reckons Duran should’ve saw yellow, given the ‘reckless’ nature of the challenge - but has kiboshed claims any further punishment would be required.
Clattenburg assesses ‘reckless’ Duran challenge
He told Rangers News, he said: “Camilo Duran’s tackle on Nicolas Raskin was a reckless challenge which could easily have resulted in a yellow card. VAR will have checked this and seen that Duran jumped into his opponent with his studs low and not directly to the body of Raskin to meet the criteria for a red card.”
The ‘serious foul play’ section of IFAB law 12 reads: “A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”
As Duran’s tackle wasn’t closely examined by VAR, it suggests that there wasn’t enough ‘excessive force’ used to warrant an on-field review. Another flashpoint in the match was Rangers defender Olwethu Makhanya’s disallowed goal in the 74th minute. The South African thought he’d doubled the visitors’ advantage when his well struck volley went in off the upright, however replays clearly showed he controlled the ball with his arm, as the goal was swiftly chalked off.
Ex Premier League ref on handball rule
Clattenburg reckons football lawmakers IFAB need to step in and make the rule on that element of handball clearer. He told GRV Media: “The law is clear, and if a player touches the ball with his hand before immediately scoring, then the goal must be disallowed. Olwethu Makhanya’s brilliant strike was disallowed as the ball touched his arm before he struck the ball to goal. I believe the decision to be correct, but I feel IFAB need to address this at the next meeting, as it’s becoming more and more a controversial law, especially what we have seen in England and Scotland in recent weeks.”
The handball rule has been under the microscope in Scottish football and beyond in recent weeks - particularly when it leads to a goal. Hearts midfielder Laurent Mendy had a goal chopped off by VAR in their 1-1 stalemate with Kilmarnock as he was adjudged to have handed the ball before his strike, however as his shot may have been going wide before deflecting off Killie defender Cathal McCarthy, many pundits have claimed the goal should’ve stood.