Ex-Fifa referee: VAR would have banned Butcher as controversial Celtic footage emerges
Calum Butcher should have been sent off for his foul on David Turnbull during Dundee United’s 3-0 loss to Celtic, according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee admitted he had sympathy for Don Robertson and VAR would have overturned his original decision to award a yellow card.
Butcher was shown a caution as he caught Turnbull’s shin with his studs during a challenge just after the hour mark.
He had been on the pitch for less than 10 minutes after being introduced from the bench and Hackett insisted he was lucky to stay on.
“I think that’s a red card,” Hackett said after analysing the footage with Football Insider correspondent Conor Whitley.
“In fairness, the referee has got no chance. He’s gone for a yellow because he’s not got the view that TV affords him.
“This is where VAR would come in. He got away with it.
“It’s a red but the referee hasn’t got a chance from where he sees it. He’s not seen it but it’s a red card every day.
“You can’t make those sorts of challenges anymore. Players have got to understand when they go sliding in like that with their boot raised, they face the consequences.
“It’s reckless, it’s excessive force and with his boot in like that, it endangers the safety of his opponent. It’s red.”
A straight red card would have seen Butcher banned for Dundee United’s next three games.
That would include home games against Livingston and Hibs as well as a trip to Ibrox to face Rangers.
In other news, Celtic have been tipped to sign an A-list star who will light up Parkhead after an update last week.