Andy Walker has backed up the decision not to punish Celtic defender Alexandro Bernabei for a challenge against Hearts - as he laughed off Robbie Neilson's heated post match debrief.
Hearts manager Neilson was furious that the defender was not shown red for a challenge on Nathaniel Atkinson, claiming post-match visitors to Celtic Park had to be "decapitated" to be sent off. VAR official Nick Walsh checked Bernabei's tackle while the Hearts player received treatment, and referee Alan Muir was not asked to review the footage, having failed to issue a card following the incident.
Walker played down the post match gripes from Neilson as he insisted that the bar should be high for calls that could change the game - as he pointed to a flashpoint during Livingston's draw with Dundee United that irked Lions' boss David Martindale. Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show, the former Celtic star said: "Well, it's a great headline.
"But you know me, I much prefer the bar to be really quite high for fouls, yellows and especially reds. I was at Livingston last night and David Martindale was complaining about a tackle on his man (Scott) Pittman and it was given as a yellow.
"I am quite happy with a good bit of leeway being shown to a player no matter what the colour of your strip." Pressed on if "decapitation" was maybe slightly strong by host Paul Cooney, Walker laughed: "Just a wee bit."
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