“Head on head. No mitigating factors. High degree of danger,” Tom English

Yesterday’s challenge on Kyogo by Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic was both reckless and dangerous.

Celtic Park fell silent yesterday when Kyogo received a horrendous head knock in the 48th minute. The supporters, players and coaching staff knew straight away that something was wrong as the Japanese striker lay motionless on the turf.

It was an awful collision one that could have been avoided. The Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic didn’t need to go for the ball in the way he did. He endangered the life of a fellow pro. That’s not an exaggeration as going through someone at such force especially to the head can be fatal.

He received a yellow but it was a red all day long. You can’t endanger the life of a fellow professional and expect not to feel the consequences.

Tom English, really a rugby man, used his knowledge of that sport to make his point on this shocking collision. “Head on head. No mitigating factors. High degree of danger. This is a red card in rugby not to mind football. Disgraceful decision. Kyogo appears to be out cold. Can’t quite understand why Sky could say there was no concussion.”

Kyogo was out before he hit the deck, that’s how forceful the blow was. It was dangerous, anyone saying any different is wrong. If we want to cut incidents such as this out of the game then it needs to be dealt with in a serious manner, and a yellow card certainly doesn’t suffice.

Rival supporters point to the Dedryck Boyata/Gary Mackay-Steven incident in the 2018 League Cup final, but that was a different situation. That was two players going for a 50/50 ball in the penalty area, it was an unfortunate accident.

Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic lies injured during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Aberdeen at Celtic Park Stadium on November 12, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Yesterday’s incident wasn’t and was just a frustrated player trying to leave his mark on a rival player. It certainly wasn’t accidental in my book.

Just listen to Willie Miller, the Aberdeen legend who knows a thing or two about good defending. Miller said on BBC Sportsound: “Somebody needs to tell Slobodan Rubezic to calm down. It’s dangerous and out of control. It’s a common occurrence with him. He was never going to get the ball.”

I get he didn’t intend to maim Kyogo but he still attacked the situation with dangerous intent, that is reckless endangerment and he should have been punished much more severely than the pathetic yellow card Willie Collum opted for.

No one should have their life placed in danger when doing their job and this sort of thing needs stamped out from football once and for all.

Maybe Willie Miller should have a chat to Rubezic to explain just how reckless his challenge was?

Kyogo himself had this to say on his instagram account earlier today:

“I don’t know how many minutes it was, but I’ve lost my memory, and I don’t remember anything about my teammates worrying about me and walking out of the pitch by myself. At the hospital, the doctor told me that you’re fine without any problems, and I felt that the god of football protected me. I will continue to do my best with keeping my gratitude in mind,” Kyogo

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

2 Comments

  1. Anyone who has ever played the game knows only to well when the intention was to hurt the opponent.
    Was part of the game in days gone by at any level, for which you had to learn how to operate within, in both the given out and receiving of such thuggery?
    Game has gone a long way to cleaning up it’s act of days gone by, except within Scotland and upon Celtic player’s especially.
    Still believe that the dirty animal went in with the intention of doing the shoulder of kyogo with possibly putting him out for the rest of the season?
    Luckily the ball was that bit higher, so as sickening as the intention of the clash was, the damage done wasn’t as severe as the intention was to cause imo.
    Any head knock is taken very seriously in most sports today, due to the long-term damage that can occur.
    When intention is the reason then those accountable for there actions have to be held accountable, simple as that.
    Played within a game where the use of the elbow in the high ball was rampant, and plenty of terrible injuries occurred due to it.
    This incident was on par as many seen before, yet its meant to have been stamped out of today’s game?
    Clearly it hasn’t been within Scottish football, so all concerned need to be banned from the game, or a terrible president has been set now, where only the loss of life could bring about change?
    Could easily have happened yesterday, and to see such a smiling prick seem to think that it’s OK to do so, was one of the worst sights I’ve ever seen within Scottish football, and all without any form of punishment for those involved?
    Shocking state of Scottish football still remains