Monday 17 April 2017 08:21, UK
Ross County forward Alex Schalk deserves retrospective punishment for diving against Celtic on Sunday, Kieran Tierney has said.
The Hoops left-back had given Brendan Rodgers' side the lead at the Global Energy Stadium with a fizzing strike from distance, before County's Michael Gardyne and on-loan Celtic winger Patrick Roberts traded goals to leave the score 2-1 heading into the game's conclusion.
In the final minute of normal time, however, Schalk went down under no contact with Celtic centre-half Erik Sviatchenko in close proximity but not committing to a challenge.
Referee Don Robertson awarded the spot-kick to the dismay of Celtic manager Rodgers, who later called the decision "the worst I've ever seen", with Liam Boyce converting to earn the The Staggies a 2-2 draw.
Retrospective suspensions for simulation are present in Scotland, with Hearts' Jamie Walker having received a two-game ban for diving against Celtic on the opening day of the season, and Tierney feels the same is necessary for Schalk.
"I knew straight it away it was a dive," said Tierney, who was the victim of Walker's dive on the opening day. "It was the same kind of thing with Jamie Walker when we played Hearts in the first game of the season. But this incident was more obvious.
"I think Walker was banned for it, but it's obviously not up to me. It should be the same rule for every player.
"It's not a nice part of the game, you can expect contact, but you're not going to go down if there's no contact. It's as simple as that.
"If it's striker's prerogative to do that then everyone would be falling about. Whenever you get close to people in games you need to stay on your feet, but if someone gets too close then fair enough.
"I couldn't believe it when the referee gave the penalty, everyone was so surprised. The linesman had a great view and was standing straight in line with it, but obviously not."
Celtic captain Scott Brown was sent off in injury-time for a late challenge on Boyce, whom he had earlier clashed with.
The midfielder will receive a two-match ban, but Celtic are set to exploit a loophole which will make him available for Sunday's William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers.
With the deadlines 24 hours later than normal because of the Easter Monday holiday, the Scottish Football Association had already told clubs any appeals from the weekend's action would not be heard until a week on Thursday.
