Celtic fans react as Simunovic escapes retrospective punishment

by Brendan McHugh share

2 minute read 9/2/2019 | 07:01pm

Jozo Simunovic has escaped any further punishment from the SFA for his midweek challenge on Hibernian’s Oli Shaw, as reported by The Daily Record.

The Croatian centre-back was referred to the much-discussed SFA disciplinary process following Wednesday’s game. But after the footage was reviewed on Friday, it was decided the big defender’s challenge did not constitute violent conduct.

He is now free to play in Sunday’s vital Scottish Cup clash against St. Johnston at Celtic Park.

Despite dropping down the pecking order under Brendan Rodgers this season, Simunovic will be needed to solidify the Celtic defence while Filip Benkovic and Dedryck Boyata continue to recover from their recent injuries.

On Friday the Hoops boss suggested that he did not believe the defender’s challenge warranted retrospective punishment, and Celtic fans weren’t slow to give their opinions on news of Simunovic avoiding it. Here’s a look at how they reacted on social media…

Spurious Simunovic review thrown out

— Tully's Corner (@CornerTully) February 8, 2019

He’s looking at the ball, same as Simunovic. It’s what players do. It was a coming together and ask yourself why it is the first person to react is Simunovic. He draws the refs attention to the fact they’ve collided, would he do that if he went out to do him? No.

— DWT (@DancesWithTaxis) February 8, 2019

Brown was booked, simunovic wasn’t a foul and we gained no advantage from Burke so he can’t be banned per the rules, nice to see you raging though

— . (@Ryan67_) February 8, 2019

Try as i might I can't see the downside to Morelos getting banned, MacGregor getting cited and Simunovic getting off free.
Maybe I'm not looking hard enough but the decisions seem to be fair and just.

— tommy (@Tomtheleedstim) February 8, 2019

Said this last night & will repeat it again, Burke cant be cited for diving, because nothing was given. Not booked for diving, or penalty or freekick. Fouls are different. Simunovic was lucky.

— TM180 ? (@teammc180) February 8, 2019

I’m struggling to see what Jozo did wrong. An exercise in equivalence with the Rangers stuff in all honesty.

— Roger Mellie (@RogerMellie1888) February 8, 2019