Jim Goodwin branded the penalty call that sent Motherwell on the way to a 2-0 victory over his Dundee United side as “ridiculous”.
Referee Nick Walsh was summoned to the VAR monitor after an incident which appeared to show Tawanda Maswanhise floored by an arm to the ribs from Vicko Sevelj late in the first half.
Goodwin viewed the clash as a routine “coming together” and felt Maswanhise made the most of it.
The Motherwell striker recovered to score the spot-kick then added his 21st goal of the season early in the second half.
Goodwin said: “A decision like that really takes it out the players.
“A coming together of two players like that happens 100 times in football.
“But that’s what we’re used to this season with the way games are being refereed.
“Players in general have to take some responsibility.
“We had a similar incident against Hearts when the Hearts player went down holding his face like he’d been hit hard and conned the ref.
“And Maswanhise went down like he’d been punched with full force in the ribs.
“It gives VAR something to look at, but I’d love a referee to see it again and say ‘that’s not a penalty’ and play on.
“He obviously didn’t deem it violent conduct because he gave him (Sevelj) a yellow.
“It’s not a penalty and I wouldn’t want penalties like that given.
“We seem to be saying the same things about refereeing in this country. It’s going from bad to worse.”
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou, whose team closed to within one point of third-placed Celtic, strongly disagreed.
“As I see it, there’s a movement with the arm which looks like a strike towards Tawanda,” said Askou.
“There was a lot of infighting in the game but, as far as I know, it still isn’t allowed.
“I don’t think there have been any rule changes where it’s allowed to hit an opponent.
“Then they have to decide if it’s enough force for a red card – and they made that call.
“We need to take a lot of things out of football, especially running around hitting each other – because it’s got nothing to do with football.”
Askou was thrilled to watch Maswanhise increase his goal tally with a brace.
The Danish coach said: “It’s fantastic to have a player who can score a penalty every time, then know he’ll get chances during the game.
“He was a little bit lucky, but you have to play the luck and force the luck by having a go.
“He deserved a goal or two. He does so well to break free of the tight marking and physical duels that go on around him, which can be a mental test.”
