Ex-Fifa referee: Ojo should be banned as controversial Aberdeen footage goes viral pre-Celtic
Funso Ojo’s red card for Aberdeen during their 1-0 loss to Dundee United was “harsh” but the referee had no alternative, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee insisted Bobby Madden had to show Ojo a second yellow for his altercation with a member of the crowd.
The midfielder was pushed by a fan and while he was not violent towards him, he did approach him after being pushed.
A video of the incident posted to Twitter by @RD____19 has now gathered over 500,000 views.
As reported by the Daily Record today (November 23), Aberdeen have failed in their attempts to get the second yellow overturned.
He will now miss the Dons’ visit to Celtic next weekend.
“There isn’t much distance between the touchline and the stand,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“But the reality is he’s left the field of play and he’s gone over the hoardings.
“The referee has got no alternative. You might disagree but if you leave the field of play in that situation, that’s what happens.
“Ok, the spectator may have incited it but you cannot do that. He’s left the referee with very little option than to give him a second yellow.
“It might be harsh but that particular aspect of the law, leaving the field of play, is a standard yellow card offence.
“It was done for safety reasons, you don’t want a crowd surge. That’s why it was introduced into law.
“I know it’s harsh but that is the law. The referee had little option.”
In other news, Celtic can ‘really hurt’ Rangers after a source reveals signings plan ahead of January.