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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Copeland

Reo Hatate deserves Celtic ban for Dundee United tackle as former SFA referee brands challenge 'nasty and calculated'

Former top refs Steve Conroy and Des Roache reckon Reo Hatate should have been sent off for his foul on Kieran Freeman.

The Celtic midfielder has come under fire for his studs-up challenge on the Dundee United full-back although John Beaton only flashed a yellow card at the time.

Freeman himself has moved to quell the fury directed towards the Japan star but debate has continued over whether he should have been sent off.

However former SFA whistler Conroy told the Get Involved Referee podcast that it was a "calculated" foul.

"I think it was nasty," he said.

"I think his studs were definitely showing and I think that was quite calculated considering the distance he had to cover.”

Reo Hatate goes into the book (SNS Group)

Any retrospective red card would see Hatate miss Celtic's upcoming clashes with Ross County and Rangers.

And fellow former ref Roache reckons that's what should happen as he added: "It should have been a red card. I know a lot of people are saying it wasn’t a lunge but for me Hatate was running at speed and the ball had ricocheted away.

“Having gone to ground he had the time to divert away from the tackle but for me he chose to continue with the tackle.

"So he’s gone with a straight leg, he’s come from a distance and his studs were slightly showing and the other player has not had the opportunity to get out of the road. So he has not thought about the safety of an opponent.”

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