The defender was booked for a tackle on Jordan Obita in the first half of the Hoops win at Easter Road
18:19, 30 Nov 2025Updated 19:29, 30 Nov 2025
Celtic defender Colby Donovan tackles Hibs man Jordan Obita
Celtic defender Colby Donovan has been told he should have seen red for a crunching tackle on Hibs star Jordan Obita.
The teenager was shown a yellow card for the controversial flashpoint in the opening exchanges of the Easter Road clash. The Hoops secured a 2-1 win over David Gray’s side at Easter Road to cut the gap on table-topping Hearts to two points – having played a game less than the Jambos. A one-two punch thanks to first half goals from Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels floored the hosts – before Martin O’Neill’s men were forced to weather a second half storm from Hibs after Martin Boyle netted from the penalty spot.
But before Maeda netted the opening goal of the contest, 19-year-old Donovan flew into a tackle on Obita as the attacker attempted to skip away from the Celtic youngster. He appeared to catch the left-back on the ankle, with referee Nick Walsh quickly reaching for the yellow card.
Grant Irvine in the VAR room would opt against sending the man in the middle to review the incident at the pitchside monitor. At the time of the flashpoint, Celtic hero Chris Sutton admitted: “He just gets sucked in here, Donovan does. That is a reckless challenge, it really is on Obita.”
Former Celtic star and Hibs boss John Collins felt that a booking was sufficient. He told BBC Sportsound: “It’s the correct decision. He did lunge, and as soon as you go ground like that you are in trouble.”
But former SFA whistlers Des Roache and Steve Conroy also delivered an emphatic verdict on the decision – declaring the officials got it wrong. A message via The Ref’s View podcast read: “That is a red card everyday.”
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