Ex-PGMOL chief: Adeboyega appeal update after 'harsh' Dundee United red vs Dundee
03/17/2025 02:10 PM
Keith Hackett has suggested that the penalty and red card conceded by Dundee United defender Emmanuel Adeboyega in the Dundee derby would not have been given in England.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA exclusively told Football Insider that he believes officials in Scotland are rightly more strict when it comes to the use of the arm.
Dundee United suffered a first home defeat to their near neighbours since 2004 on Sunday (16 March), losing 4-2 at Tannadice Park.
Their hopes of any late comeback in that match, were also effectively ended by the sending off of Adegboyega, and the subsequent penalty conversion by Simon Murray.
Dundee seal derby win with red card and penalty
With the visitors leading 3-2 in the fifth minute of added time, they were then gifted the chance to secure all three points from the penalty spot.
As Murray chased a ball into the hosts’ penalty area, he went down under what looked to be a faint push in the back from Dundee United defender Adegboyega, while nearing the byline on the left of the area.
That prompted referee Nick Walsh to point to the penalty spot, while also brandishing a red card in the face of the Terras’ man.
| Scottish Premiership Position | Played | Points |
| 1. Celtic | 30 | 75 |
| 2. Rangers | 30 | 62 |
| 3. Hibernian | 30 | 44 |
| 4. Aberdeen | 30 | 43 |
| 5. Dundee United | 30 | 41 |
Murray himself then converted the penalty to confirm the three points for Dundee, and deal a blow to their rival’s hopes of securing a European place.
Dundee United have been unfortunate with some refereeing decisions recently, but on this occasion Hackett believes they can have no complaints and won’t win any appeal.
Keith Hackett assesses decisive derby decision
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the decision to punish Adeyboyega for what looked to be minimal contact on his opponent, Hackett said:
“It might look harsh but that’s DOGSO (Denial of a Goal Scoring Opportunity)… This is where within refereeing certainly there’s a difference in approach in England as there is in Scotland.
“In Scotland referees will, in opinion rightly, punish when the arm is used illegally to push an opponent. In England they’re tending to look for more force.
“I think in England, he might have got away with it because they would say ‘well the push is not strong enough’.
“But I think here in Scotland it’s DOGSO and they’ve no chance of winning an appeal.”
While this defeat may have been a blow for Jim Goodwin and his side, for Dundee, the victory has moved them five points clear of bottom side St Johnstone in the fight to stay in the Scottish Premiership.
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