Celtic player helped Rangers' John Lundstram avoid red card

It’s well known that a lot of referees try to avoid handing out early bookings or red cards in a game. Based on Saturday’s Scottish Cup final between Celtic and the Rangers, it seems as if the same might apply to the final moments of a match too. At that stage last weekend, Matt O'Riley leapt to avoid receiving a late tackle and may have assisted the referee in not having to make a tough decision.

When this happened the Scottish Cup final was running down an extra couple of minutes which had been added to the original eight minutes of added time. With over 99 minutes on the clock, the match continued with Celtic 1-0 ahead, thanks to Adam Idah's late strike.

The Celtic players were keeping the ball in the Rangers' half while waiting on Walsh's final whistle. And John Lundstram, who had been sent off in the previous Glasgow Derby at Parkhead, had only been on the pitch for four minutes by this point.

As play went on Lundstram made a questionable challenge for the ball at O’Riley’s feet, close by the touchline. It was only the Celtic player's sheer quality, jumping over the tackle that avoided a potentially dangerous contact, as the Rangers man slid through, luckily missing both the ball and his opponent.

Celtic player helped Rangers' John Lundstram avoid red card

That was a reckless challenge to be made at any point. It is even worse in those last moments of a match when the result is beyond doubt. Lundstram could have easily been sent off for a second straight Glasgow Derby. It was also very probably his last-ever tackle in a Rangers shirt as he seems to be heading out in the summer.

Peter Grant was not happy with Lundstram's tackle. As reported by the Daily Record, he said while speaking on Celtic TV's live commentary of the game:

"I tell you what, if he (O'Riley) hadn't jumped over it that was another red card for Lundstram.

"It was a shocking attempt and how the referee has let him away with it, whether it was the last kick of the game or not, is shocking."

Rangers fans may be too busy debating how hard a push in a goalkeeper's back can be without it being a foul to be worried by a challenge from the departing Lundstram. On the other hand, the Celtic players will be too busy still celebrating a superb cup and league double this season to be bothered. But as the performance of VAR and referees remains under the microscope in Scotland, it is appropriate and correct to raise concerns about such instances.