Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell was 'baffled' by the inconsistency shown by referee Ross Hardie in his side's 4-0 defeat to Celtic, with the Fir Park boss also taking issue with the way that the match official spoke to his players. Kettlewell was angered as Motherwell winger Tawanda Maswanhise was cautioned for simulation in the first half of the contest at Celtic Park after going down under a challenge from Hyun-jun Yang, feeling that while there may not have been enough contact for a penalty, his player also hadn't dived. Yang then won a spot kick at the other end after referee Hardie judged that contact on his back from Motherwell keeper Aston Oxborough merited a penalty award.
Arne Engels subsequently tucked the ball home from 12 yards to give Celtic the lead right at the end of an otherwise uneventful first half, but while Kettlewell didn't blame the officials for his side's eventual defeat, he was far from pleased with the way they handled the match. "Again, this is where I'm left baffled," Kettlewell said. "I don't think it's a penalty, but it's not a dive.
He has not tried to buy a penalty. He's running at pace, the Celtic player is touch tight. I would say that there is some sort of contact there, but not enough for a penalty in my opinion, and the referee instantly books him and regards it simulation.
"I'm kind of blown away by that, I really am. I think we've probably all seen at the time that it was close. Are we claiming for a penalty? I think you naturally .