Keith Hackett reacts to 'really interesting' Sylla red card controversy in Hearts v Dundee

03/10/2025 02:21 PM

Dundee midfielder Mo Sylla easily could have been sent off during his side’s Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts, Keith Hackett has said.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that the decision by referee Kevin Clancy to play advantage after a challenge by Sylla created a “really interesting” situation.

Hearts secured their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 3-1 win over Dundee at Tynecastle on Friday night (7 March) as their improving season continued under Neil Critchley.

However, another talking point from that game came with the decision not to send off Sylla for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity early in the second half.

Mo Sylla survives calls for dismissal at Tynecastle

Hearts survived a penalty scare in their clash with Hibernian last week, but on this occasion they were the ones left frustrated by a big refereeing decision.

With Hearts having taken a 1-0 lead into half time, Dundee equalised through Joe Shaughnessy five minutes after the break.

Shortly after though, the hosts looked as though they would get the chance to go back in front on the counter attack following a loose header from Cesar Garza just inside the Dundee half.

But as Kenneth Vargas looked to pounce and go through one on one, he was hauled down by Sylla just past the halfway line.

The ball then broke to Elton Kabangu who raced through on goal as Clancy played advantage, but the Hearts man was stopped from getting a shot away following a recovering challenge from Garza.

Clancy then booked Sylla following the end of that passage of play, although some felt the Dundee man should have been red carded for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Now Hackett has given his verdict on whether that should indeed have been the case.

Keith Hackett assesses Hearts’ appeals for Dundee dismissal

Speaking to Football Insider about whether Sylla could have been sent off, the former referee said:

“I think it’s a really interesting one. I think there’s no question had he blown immediately for that free kick, it’s DOGSO (Denial Of a Goal Scoring Opportunity) and red card.

“But what he’s (Clancy) done, is applied an advantage which has not materialised. In that situation, he could go back and red card the player for denial.

“Because even though he’s played an advantage, the advantage has not materialised, and he has the opportunity to go back and punish that first incident which is denial.

“I think that the point that is open for debate, is when we look at the law we have to take into account distance from goal – well he’s quite a considerable distance.

“[Then] covering defenders, so what protects the referee to some degree and puts the pendulum the other way from a refereeing perspective, he’s probably thought that the point that foul has taken place, that covering defender is influencing his decision.That’s why he’s not given a red card.

“It’s a really good learning point, from my perspective, I know there’s distance from goal but all you’re looking for that player to do is when you’re coaching referees, take away the player that’s committed the offence and assume he’s not committed the offence.

“Would that player have gone on and had a shot at goal? No doubt, so I think he’s very fortunate that a red card’s not been awarded…

“These are the sort of incidents that referees should debate thoroughly. Amongst the Scottish referees discuss it, and have an open debate and then let that debate go public, in terms of advise the public why it wasn’t a red card.”

An own goal from Simon Murray and a second from Sander Kartum did nonetheless give Hearts a 3-1 win that secures their place in the final four of the competition.

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