Tam Courts in Reo Hatate Celtic red card verdict as Dundee United boss offers retrospective action take

Tam Courts insists Celtic’s Reo Hatate should have been sent off on Monday night - however the Dundee United boss does not want retrospective punishment dished out.

The Hoops star caught Tangerines full-back Kieran Freeman with a late challenge in the first half of the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tannadice.

Hatate was shown a yellow card by referee John Beaton with Courts certain the player should have been dismissed.

However, the United head coach admits it would be hypocritical of him to demand a retrospective ban after seeing what his own player Calum Butcher suffered earlier in the season when he was “hung, drawn and quartered” by pundits after a controversial tackle on Celtic ’s David Turnbull.

Courts said: “I remember remonstrating on the side of the pitch at the time of Hatate’s challenge. I did feel there were some similarities to the Calum Butcher tackle that was retrospectively looked at.

“I’ve taken a look back and I don’t think there was any malice in it. But there is no doubt, in the modern game and under current rules, it was a red card.

“The referee has taken a different viewpoint and we have to move on from it.”

Butcher eventually received a three-match ban for his challenge on Turnbull with Courts adding: “I understand player care is really important but the thing I didn’t like about the Calum Butcher situation was the furore that was attached to his tackle.

“He was hung, drawn and quartered externally. That’s the thing that disappoints me.

“When potentially over-zealous tackles are committed by non Celtic or Rangers players against the Old Firm, the furore attached is terrible.

“I remember feeling at the time that Calum was victimised. I don’t want that for Hatate. He probably should have been