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Daily Record
Daily Record
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Sports Hotline

Celtic fan paranoia over Ryan Porteous red against Rangers deserves the tiny violin treatment - Hotline

Listen, if you've sought out the Hotline this morning you doubtless already know what's on the agenda.

Yes, the Ryan Porteous red card debate shows no sign of abating, so let's get straight to it with Jimmy Mac, Glasgow.

He said: "The paranoia from Celtic fans on the Hotline is unbelievable.

"Dermot Gallagher, a former Grade 1 referee with 15 years' experience states Nick Walsh made the correct decision, but the 'it's a conspiracy' mob with their paranoia falsely claim it's down to biased referees, the SFA, SPFL and everybody who doesn't support Celtic is cheating.

"Look at facts and football rules with a non-biased attitude instead of deflecting from your own club's failures."

(Daily Record)

Stuart McLeod, Stepps, reckons the reaction would be very different if roles were reversed.

Don't you know how this tribalism stuff works, Stuart?

He said: "Wow, we need to get the violins out for the petted lip brigade.

"People trying to say Porteous didn't merit a red card... well, let's see how they react if a similar tackle goes in on Kyogo Furuhashi or Martin Boyle. Porteous was at least three or four inches over the ball and went in with excessive force when all he had to do was stand up and win it.

"Gordon Ashley having a usual moan about refs must have forgotten Jota committed around six fouls before picking up a booking. Blinkers well and truly on."

Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, e-mailed: "Surely it would be more sporting of Ryan Porteous to hold his hands up and say sorry for a moment of madness that brought back memories of the horrific tackle Ian Durrant suffered, rather than appeal.

"If he connected then Joe Aribo's career would have been over and Porteous banned for life. The SFA need to stamp their authority and kick out this behaviour."

Chris Lowe, Yoker, said: "I must have missed the multiple inquests and clamour for VAR when St. Mirren got a man sent off at Celtic park after 20 minutes and also when Dundee United only last week were denied a stonewaller at Parkhead, also with a possible red card too.

"It appears some people can’t contain their seethe that a result went Rangers' way and a referee correctly sent off a Hibs player."

Gordon Hendry, Ochiltree, added: "As a Rangers supporter I've always had the greatest respect for Jack Ross - but not any more.

"How can he defend the indefensible by appealing the red card decision on Sunday? He's indirectly telling this young player that it's OK to go into a tackle at that speed, with that level of aggression, with your boot at that height above the ground and with the excessive force used on this occasion to try and win the ball.

(SPORTPIX.ORG.UK)

"This is not the first time Porteous has displayed these traits. Surely Jack would be better off having a quiet word in this young man's ear to try and eradicate this from his game as the lad has a lot of other qualities that would enable him to have a bright future as a professional footballer."

Of course, not everybody sees it that way and who other to lead the pushback than aforementioned Hotline regular Gordon Ashley ?

He blasted: " Steven Gerrard and most of the media pundits are talking utter nonsense over the Porteous tackle.

"He went in at full speed but with his foot leading well in front of Aribo with the intention of catching the ball with his inner leg, which he did.

"It's a legal tackle all day long and no contact was made with Aribo."

John Scott, Grassmoor, came armed with stats.

He said: "Porteous has been shown two red cards during his five-year career, both against Rangers.

"He's been called a hatchet man, a coward and a thug by so-called professionals now working as pundits. Since 2017/18 he's been booked 20 times in 78 league games - one every 3.9 games. Over the same period, Alfredo Morelos has played 127 games and received 33 yellows and six reds.

"It screams hypocrisy from Rangers and their manager. If we are going to send people off for 'could have' tackles, we may as well all give up."

(PA)

Paul Keenan reckons it's VAR or doom for Scottish football.

He said: VAR is a complete necessity to save the Scottish game. The amount of decisions in favour of Rangers and against Celtic is beyond belief. Refs like Bobby Madden need to be scrutinised.

And Ian Melrose, Edinburgh, agreed: "I don't think anyone is disputing a lot of these decisions that go in Rangers' favour could have gone either way.

"It's just in my experience as a Hibs fan for over 30 years that only one club in Scotland continually gets almost all of these calls in their benefit and that's Rangers.

"It's not sour grapes - I work with Hearts and Falkirk fans who totally agree."

Well, actually, Ian, here's Alfie Mullin, London, right on hand to dispute it.

He said: "Henry Moffat argues Rangers get more help from match officials and dodgy decisions go in their favour.

"He says Rangers fans can only point to the 2019 Betfred Cup Final and Christopher Jullien's offside goal as an example of when Celtic got help.

"He seems to forget the amount of dodgy tackles Scott Brown got away with in a Celtic jersey. As for the Betfred Final, Rangers fans still go on about it because it was the first instalment in Celtic's tainted Treble."

Taking a breather from the Porteous incident for a moment, John Bruce is wondering why all talk of celebrations from the weekend apparently focused on Gerrard, who let his emotions show after full-time at Ibrox.

He emailed: "It was interesting to see the flak Gerrard was given for his celebrations after the Hibs game on Sunday, especially given the importance of the top of the table clash, one which saw Rangers regain top spot and reaffirm their title intentions.

"Yet no such criticism was aimed at the Celtic fans who celebrated wildly after their team's victory at Pittodrie - for clinging on to sixth place."

One possible explanation is victory at Pittodrie is just the beginning for Celtic - at least that's how Bud Hay, Dumfries, sees it.

He said: "Rangers got let off the hook again.

"Hibs were going to give them a thumping but once again they were reduced to 10-men.

"George Wilson has been counting his chickens before they hatch on the Hotline - Rangers to win the Premiership? Celtic are on their way back and you better believe it."

And finally a trip down south where Manchester United fan Alan Lough in Dunbar is well truly sick of CR7 Mania.

He lamented: "I've been a Man United fan all my life but I was delighted the first time Cristiano Ronaldo left and didn't want him to return.

"Less than a month after his first match and I'm sick to the back teeth of him already. Plank."

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