Gallagher in 'bad tackle' Casey Rangers red card assessment

The Motherwell centre-half went flying into a tackle with the Northern Ireland youngster during the first half of the Fir Park side's 2-1 win at Ibrox.

Alan Muir opted not to give a yellow card, or even a foul for the incident.

Casey would go on to score the winner for Stuart Kettlewell's team in what was a dramatic afternoon of Premiership action.

⚽️ "It is a penalty. Would you rather take less time and then wave it away?"
🟥 "I think it's a red card, I think it's a really bad tackle"

Dermot Gallagher takes a look at Rangers' penalty and the decision not to send Motherwell's Dan Casey off 🔽 pic.twitter.com/hJaIgZ4q2P

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) March 4, 2024

And former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes it was a clear-cut red card.

"I don't know," he responded when asked why it wasn't a sending-off. "I think it is a red card.

"I think it's a really, really bad tackle. The pace he goes in at, everything about it. The lad had to leave the pitch and went home on crutches I'm led to believe. Not a nice tackle."

Stephen Warnock had his say too. Responding to the point that Casey didn't even receive a yellow, he added: "No, it's a poor tackle, isn't it?

"Even afterward, the way he tells the player to get up. That's the sort of signal that you know you've hurt someone."

READ MORE: Former ref in Casey red card verdict over Rangers vs Motherwell tackle

Sue Smith said: "Yeah, it's a poor challenge. I can't believe he wasn't at least booked. Looking at that, it has to be a red card. He's late, he's aggressive and the poor lad had to go off on crutches."

Ex-Scottish FA whistler Bobby Madden was of the same viewpoint as the aforementioned trio. 

Reflecting on a host of contentious incidents from the weekend's action, he wrote on social media: "You just can’t tackle in that manner anymore.

"Playing the ball is not a consideration. It’s all centred around player safety. Did the player show a disregard, caution and yellow card for reckless challenge, or endanger the safety of the opponent, red card for serious foul play.

"VAR had a real opportunity to recommend an on-field review to the referee as it was essentially a missed incident as no foul was given live.

"No significant contact was made with the studs, more by luck than design, but the pace and intensity of the challenge would warrant a red card."