Dundee United continue to fizz over two red cards vs Hearts as SFA take definitive stance on flashpoints
The Dundee United boss has been left far from impressed after incidents in a clash with Hearts.
Jim Goodwin has been left dismayed by the SFA’s decision to throw out Dundee United appeals for sending off offences against Hearts.
Amar Fatah and Pan Camara were both red carded in the weekend’s 3-0 loss in the Premiership against Derek McInnes’ side. Fatah was sent off for a late challenge on Marc Leonard and United boss Goodwin has been left unhappy with the Birmingham City loanee who was at the centre of Camara’s sending off, after the midfielder gestured his head towards him.
Goodwin was clear on his stance after the game and that has not changed now the appeals have been thrown out, as they get set to miss games against Hibs and Aberdeen. He said: “I think it’s very harsh. It’s a real blow for us, two very important players missing for two massive league games. I haven’t changed my view on either of the red cards. I thought the ref on the pitch called Amar Fatah’s one correctly.”
Dundee United red cards vs Hearts verdict
“I’ve heard the VAR conversation, the ref thought it was on the side of the foot and therefore a yellow. It was a genuine attempt to play the ball, he mentioned the close proximity – everything we saw on the video afterwards was exactly how he explained it on the pitch. But the guys in the VAR thought differently, so you end up with two or three referees trying to ref the game.
“As I said after the game, I would love a ref to have the courage to stick to their original opinion and not be swayed by the VAR conversation. It’s a breath of fresh air on the few occasions they have stuck to their guns. It wasn’t a dangerous or nasty tackle, the player was up and played on – a yellow card would have sufficed.
“I haven’t got a different view on the Camara one either – the reaction of the Hearts player is embarrassing. That influenced the ref’s decision. There was no excessive force, there was no clash of heads or contact so it certainly can’t be deemed a headbutt. The more I watch it back the more angry I get by the whole decision.
Why Jim Goodwin is unhappy with red cards for Dundee United vs Hearts
“If VAR can step in for the Fatah one, I don’t know how it can’t step in to say the Hearts player has made a meal of it. I think it should have been looked at and overturned. You could give him a yellow card for needlessly getting involved in the skirmish, but again, our young striker is getting dragged all over the place. As one of our senior players, I think Pan feels he has every right to go in there and support a team-mate and I wouldn’t discourage that.”
A United statement read: “Dundee United are disappointed to confirm that our appeals against the dismissals of Amar Fatah and Panutche Camara during our William Hill Premiership match against Heart of Midlothian have both been unsuccessful following today’s fast track tribunal.
“The original sanctions issued by the match referee are reimposed with immediate effect and both players will remain unavailable for the next two league matches.