MULTIPLE chaotic incidents in one of today’s Scottish Premiership fixtures caused delays, as red cards were brandished and touchline fury unfolded.
Kilmarnock hosted Motherwell and the home side ran out comfortable winners, allowing a gap of three points to form between the two sides.
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But the contest was marred by moments of madness.
Motherwell’s Dominic Thompson was shown a red card by referee Matthew MacDermid after a coming together and subsequent scuffle left Kilmarnock‘s Daniel Armstrong rolling around on the floor.
Pictures appear to show Thompson being dragged away from furious looking Killie players before the ref went to the VAR screen.
The irate player forcibly pushed past fourth official Colin Whyte as he walked off, before heading back towards the pitch when his red was reduced to a yellow card.
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The official also had to step in as Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes and Motherwell kit man Alan MacDonald kicked off on the touchline.
‘Well manager Michael Wimmer made the decision to replace Thompson with Will Dickson shortly after.
Discussing the incident post-match, McInnes said: “I cannot for the life of me see how that’s over-turned.
“It’s a slam dunk, it’s a WWF move. He’s very fortunate.”
But Thompson wasn’t the only Motherwell player seen briefly leaving the field in a bizarre moment.
Goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe sprinted down the tunnel while the home side waited to take a corner, causing a delay to the game before returning with his gloves off very soon after.
The visitors did end the game with ten players, as earlier in the match a red card was given and stood.
Centre-half Kofi Balmer was told to walk just 26 minutes in after a consultation with VAR for a challenge on Fraser Murray deemed to be serious foul play for an aggressive follow through.
The man who opened the scoring for Kilmarnock was left with visible stud marks above his knee by the incident.
Speaking after the game, Fir Park boss Wimmer said: “Today was bad, I’m really disappointed.
“The game was killed after the red card for us. We were already one down before the red card.
“We spoke that we should keep it to one as long as possible to get perhaps some counter-attack – but after seven minutes of the second goal we lost another goal.
“This is something I’m also angry about because this was a set-piece and with a set-piece it is man against man. You have a clear responsibility for your opponent.
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“The red card? Should I be honest?
“It was never for me a red card because he tried to clear the situation.
“We spoke before the game and it was my mistake. I said that we should clear, especially on this pitch, to clear wide.
“It was one swing, it was one movement, he stands, this was no movement for
him, he has no dynamic, he stands, and he cleared. Yes, of course, he knocked him.
“But this is one movement, this is never a red card.”
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He confirmed the club will appeal the sending off: “Of course we have to try it because, as I said, in my opinion it was never a red card.
“The referee didn’t give a red card, the VAR came and said it was.”
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