Unhappy Stephen Glass has insisted referee Bobby Madden should have protected Funso Ojo after he was manhandled by a Dundee United fan - rather than compounding his misery with a red card.
The first half flashpoint happened when Ojo’s momentum took him into the advertising boards at the front of the Eddie Thompson stand.
An individual from the home section was then accused of pushing the Aberdeen star in Saturday’s fiery Premiership clash at Tannadice.
The Belgian, who had been cautioned for persistent fouling, turned toward the supporter before he returned to the pitch and was then left stunned as referee Bobby Madden showed him a second yellow and then a red card.
United’s Calum Butcher and Glass were also sent off as United came out on top thanks to an Ian Harkes goal at a fiery Tannadice.
Glass said: “It shouldn’t happen.
“He didn’t go looking for the incident in the first place and has hopped the boards after the ball has run out of play.
“He is pushed but goes back towards the incident.
“I couldn’t see the depth of it at the time but now it actually looks less like he has gone back into the crowd.
“The referee could protect the player a little bit rather than produce a second yellow
“If he doesn’t go back towards it he doesn’t give the referee an opportunity.
“Any guy that is pushed in the chest to take two steps back towards it - I don’t know!
“But he gave the opportunity to produce a second yellow and they can do that.
“The referee chose to yellow card him and I can't say too much other than that to be fair.”
Dundee United refused to make any statement and confirmed the club, police and stewards were all reviewing the incident.
Ojo felt a sense of regret and felt he had let his Aberdeen team down.
Glass added: “I have not spoken to him and he looks disappointed.
“I think he feels like he has let us down a little bit which to an extent he has because he could walk away from it and he jumps back on the pitch when we are 10 v 11.
“It is difficult to walk away from it I think.
“I will support the player although I do think he has let us down a little bit.
“But he has been brilliant for us all year and I’m sure that will continue.”
Glass confirmed he was sent off in the tunnel for questioning some of Madden’s first half decisions.
He confirmed: “I questioned a couple of his decisions- that was it.
“The referee decided I was questioning his integrity which I would never do.
“The one that gave me the most concern was when Pawlett hit Jack MacKenzie on the head.
“I saw a referee red card a Livingston player for touching a player’s head.
“That’s all I was asking about but I would not question his integrity in any way shape or form.
“But how would a head knock like that not even be a yellow card.
“I will get the chance to explain myself I am sure as there are a couple of incidents we can actually show that have different outcomes.”
