Exclusive: ‘John Beaton looked after himself’ over Cammy Devlin red for Hearts
Keith Hackett has lamented one aspect of VAR in the wake of Hearts’ Scottish FA Cup semi final defeat to Aberdeen.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA exclusively told Football Insider it is a shame that VAR cannot intervene to overturn second yellow cards for players after Cammy Devlin’s sending off.
The two sides met at Hampden Park on Saturday (19 April), with both aiming to secure a return to the ground for the final of the competition at the end of next month.
In the end it was Aberdeen who would secure that spot in the final, in some the most dramatic and rather controversial circumstances.
Cammy Devlin red card proves costly for Hearts
It was the Dons who went ahead in that game after a Craig Gordon own goal, only for Lawrence Shankland to equalise for Neil Critchly’s side just before the half-mark.
On the stroke of half time though, Hearts would go down to ten when defender Michael Steinwender was sent off.
Neither side though was able to find a winner inside 90 minutes, ensuring the game went to extra time, where yet more drama unfolded.
With just four minutes of the extra 30 to play, Devlin was sent off for a second yellow card, as he attempted to complete a clearance from outside his penalty area.
| Hearts last five games | Result |
| Ross County (H) | Won 2-0 |
| Celtic (A) | Lost 3-0 |
| Dundee United (H) | Lost 1-0 |
| Motherwell (A) | Drew 0-0 |
| Aberdeen (N) | Lost 2-1 (AET) |
In doing so though, the Hearts man caught the foot of Dante Polvara, leaving both players on the ground after contact.
Referee John Beaton then issued a second yellow card to Devlin, and with VAR not allowed to overturn second yellow cards, that ensured Critchley‘s team ended the game with just nine.
That would prove a step too far, with Oday Dabbagh then scoring moments later to confirm Aberdeen’s place in the final.
Hearts have already confirmed they will seek clarification over the decision to send Devlin off, while Hackett has suggested that it is a shame VAR could not step in to overturn the decision.
VAR problem highlight with Cammy Devlin dismissal
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the decision to send Devlin off, the former referee said:
“The ball’s there to play, it’s harsh. I think he’s careless, I don’t think it’s reckless. I don’t think he’s gone to play the man, he’s looking at the ball.
“In law, the referee can justify it. If they could appeal yellow cards they’d lose the case because his actions are deemed reckless.
“I just think given the nature of the game, given what he’s done, there’s no malice in it, it’s just careless. The [Aberdeen] player has put his foot there.
“I don’t think there’s any malice in it. I just feel that the the referee’s judged it as reckless and from his angle that is probably the case.
“The sadness is that VAR is unable to come in and in a game of that nature the referee’s going to look after himself and that’s what he’s done.”
Following that win Aberdeen will face Celtic in the final after their own 5-0 victory over St Johnstone in the other semi final over the weekend.