A YELLOW CARD? OJO DESERVES A MEDAL
Tosh praises Pittodrie midfielder and insists he showed great restraint in Tayside derby flashpoint that resulted in red card
STEVE TOSH reckons Funso Ojo deserves a medal for the restraint he showed at Tannadice – because if it had been him he would have been in the stand going after the fan.
The Aberdeen midfielder was allegedly pushed by a supporter as he went flying towards the Eddie Thompson Stand in his side’s 1-0 loss to Dundee United.
Ojo took a step forward before he thought better of things and returned to the pitch where referee Bobby Madden showed him a second yellow card and sent him off.
Ex-Don Tosh reckons a lot of players, including himself, wouldn’t have remained so calm if they had been involved in similar circumstances to Ojo.
Police Scotland have since charged a man over the alleged assault of Ojo.
Tosh said: “It might have been different had he gone for the boy or pulled him back across the front of the stand. He didn’t.
“I played in a different time but I would probably have legged it after the boy and I know a lot of players would have done the same.
“Funso could easily have retaliated or gone after the guy but he didn’t.
“Tensions are high and it is a big game, everyone knows the rivalry between Aberdeen and Dundee United.
“Anything could have happened in that situation. Emotions are running all over the place and anything can happen in the spur of the moment as we saw from the stands.
“Has the ref given the second yellow card for Funso squaring up to the boy?
“He never. I don’t think Funso Ojo has done anything wrong, I really don’t.
“I don’t know how there was any rhyme or reason why Bobby Madden has given the second yellow card out.
“I think Bobby has added fuel to the fire with his decision to show the booking and then to send Funso off, especially with the Aberdeen fans.
“It was a potential powder keg situation with the rivalry between Aberdeen and Dundee United.”
Aberdeen and chairman Dave Cormack issued a weekend statement asking for the red card to be rescinded.
Ojo has had the sympathy of the majority of Scottish football.
The SFA, however, have confirmed that the decision can’t be overturned because you can only appeal yellow cards if they are for mistaken identity or simulation.
Ojo’s caution doesn’t fall into either category.
Tosh expects the SFA to try to sweep the whole thing under the carpet
The former Dons star said: “The bit I have a problem with is that Bobby Madden isn’t even made accountable.
“The Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has come out and asked for the second yellow card to be rescinded.
“He hasn’t got a hope because a) you can’t overturn a yellow card unless it is mistaken identity or simulation and b) it would then need the SFA to come out and say that Bobby Madden got it wrong. We know that won’t happen.”
Tosh thinks that even if the SFA came out and said this is something they would look at going forward, then that would help them save some face.
He said: “What I would have liked the SFA to do was to come out with a statement that it was an unfortunate incident and looking back it should never have been given as a second yellow.
“Say ‘we can’t do anything about it’ and explain why, and then say ‘it is now something they will look at in the future’ – then it would maybe be the best of a bad situation.
“It certainly wouldn’t help Aberdeen or Funso. Do I expect them to do something like
that? I don’t think they will and the whole thing will be swept under the carpet.”
Tosh knows that Ojo, through no fault of his own, becomes the victim in every way.
He has allegedly been assaulted, sent off and now he will be denied possible win and appearance money through no fault of his own. There is also the mental side of things.
Tosh said: “Who loses out? Funso and Aberdeen. Stephen Glass won’t be able to pick him this week and Aberdeen will lose one of their better players this season.
“Funso is a professional footballer and this decision is actually taking food off his table. If Aberdeen were to win this weekend Funso loses out on a win bonus. How is that fair?
“It is not just that. What has Funso been through these last few days? We all talk about mental health issues and quite rightly so.
“How does Funso feel? He has been allegedly assaulted and sent off for nothing.
“People remember that footballers are humans and all they want is answers.
I hope if Bobby feels he’s made a mistake then he calls up Stephen Glass or Funso to apologise STEVE TOSH ON THE REFEREE’S DECISION AT TANNADICE
“Even if Bobby has realised he has made a mistake he won’t be able to come out and say anything because he is not allowed.
“I hope that if he feels he has made a mistake then he calls up Stephen Glass or Funso to apologise.”
Tosh also fears that if the SFA don’t address the situation it will put Madden in the firing line when he has to referee Aberdeen games in the future.
He said: “It could cause issues further down the line if Bobby is given an Aberdeen game.
“I have already heard him be subjected to a few choice words at times at games. He is actually a referee I liked when I played.
“Bobby is a human being as well. We all make mistakes but it is how we deal with them and try to better
ourselves.”