Madden Dismisses Barron Red Card Calls as he Compares to Celtic’s Yang

Former referee Bobby Madden has shared his perspective on the controversy surrounding Connor Barron’s tackle in Rangers’ match against St Mirren, dismissing claims that the challenge warranted a red card.

Madden, taking to Instagram to address the incident, highlighted crucial distinctions between Barron’s challenge on Olusanya and a similar foul involving Celtic’s Yang at Tynecastle last season, which did result in a sending-off.

During the Rangers-St Mirren clash, Barron’s high tackle on Olusanya sparked calls for a red card, especially given the similarities to Yang’s past challenge. Madden, however, argued that there was no clear contact between Barron’s boot and Olusanya’s face.

It’s worth boring that there was no clear contact between Yang’s boot and Cochrane’s face either.

The former ref cited multiple camera angles showing no conclusive evidence of contact, stressing that the absence of contact diminished the severity of the foul.

Madden clarified his stance: “The second clip shows a potential serious foul play. In my opinion this is not a red card offence as there is no evidence of contact between the boot and head/face. Some people may think there is contact, but there is no clear image to support that.”

According to Madden, the third camera angle “likely proves there is no contact with the boot and the face,” and therefore, in his view, no intervention was needed. He contrasted this with Yang’s challenge at Tynecastle, noting that the South Korean’s tackle involved evident contact and posed a greater risk to the opponent. Madden even suggested that, in Yang’s case, a yellow card might have sufficed, adding, “The level of contact/force didn’t endanger the safety of an opponent. Two wrongs don’t make a right, remember.”

If anything, Madden has just shown the inconsistencies in Scottish Football. Celtic were outraged by the Yang sending off last season, and did raise their concerns with the relevant authorities.