Yesterday’s challenge on Kyogo by Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic was both reckless and dangerous.
Why was this dangerous foul allowed? I just hope that Kyogo is okay.pic.twitter.com/xrnWKnvEaN
— Yatao (@yataoda4) November 12, 2023
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.”
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 https://t.co/7LOhO1C5H0
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) November 12, 2023
Disappointed Kyogo will miss Japan’s two WCQs but he’s gotta get as much time off as he can after that hit. One of the scariest head-to-head collisions I’ve seen in the sport and we’ve had a few concerning ones in the J.League these last few seasons. https://t.co/ekLWPQDvid
— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) November 13, 2023
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?
The challenge on Kyogo gets worse every time you see it.
Truly incredible that an on field ref and VAR decide that it’s not a red card challenge!?
Thoughts on @jamesTCE2020 comments here? pic.twitter.com/JDYIDuCBkt
— The Celtic Exchange (@CeltExchange) November 13, 2023
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
Kyogo on instagram:
“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… pic.twitter.com/Spl3gQdpW2
— Yatao (@yataoda4) November 13, 2023
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
