Shamrock Rovers captain Lee Grace has come under fire for an apparent push on referee Damien MacGraith during the club's 2-2 draw with Derry City on Monday night, while Virgin Media pundit Vinny Perth has questioned MacGraith's actions as well.
The clash of last season's top two was Virgin Media's first televised Monday night offering of the season, and the game produced the goods, with the title rivals sharing four goals in the final half hour.
With an absence of goals in the the first period, the Virgin panel picked up on the Grace incident during the half-time analysis, after the Rovers stand-in skipper pushed MacGraith in the chest.
On the half-hour mark, Grace received a booking for knocking over Ronan Boyce, before making his way towards MacGraith in protest.
After MacGraith told Grace to walk away, the defender pushed him softly in the chest, apparently mimicking his previous actions towards Boyce.
🗣 "I think the referee might actually be in trouble for not sending him off."
🗣 "That is not acceptable!"
Vinny Perth on Lee Grace putting his hands on referee Damien MacGraith in the first half.#SHADER | #LOI24 pic.twitter.com/rU5vD8sCJl— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 4, 2024
Lee Grace slammed for push on referee
The ref appeared stunned by the gesture but opted for leniency, signalling for Grace to calm down, instead of showing him a second yellow card.
In the Virgin Media studio, Vinny Perth was equally surprised by Grace's actions, particularly as he is a senior player in the team. Perth was also critical of MacGraith for choosing not to give the Rovers man his marching orders.
"What is he thinking?" asks the former Dundalk boss. "He's probably a little bit lucky with the push [on Boyce] and he gets a yellow card for it.
"Then he goes after the referee who tells him to stay away at least twice. He's very clear, 'get away from me,' and Lee Grace puts his hand on the referee.
"Mimicking is his only defence. I think the referee might actually be in trouble for not sending him off because referees as a committee demand respect. He's got to at least give him a second yellow card. That is a really, really silly move by someone so experienced. That's not acceptable."
𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐄!!! 🤯
Markus Poom with a brilliant header in the 92nd minute! ☘️
What a second half in Tallaght!#SHADER | #LOI24 | @ShamrockRovers pic.twitter.com/AR8RVwsXzz— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 4, 2024
Shamrock Rovers rescue draw with Derry
Had Rovers been forced to play an hour with 10 men, the result could have been different, but in the end an exciting second half saw the hosts go 1-0 up through Darragh Burns on the hour mark.
Pat Hoban equalised from the spot on 72 minutes before Danny Mullen put Derry City 2-1 ahead with just six minutes to play.
Just when it looked like the Candystripes would be coming away with all three points, Markus Poom headed in a leveller for Rovers in the second minute of injury-time.
Elsewhere on Monday, Shelbourne went top of the table with a 1-0 over Galway United, while Sligo Rovers stunned Dundalk 5-0 at Oriel Park.
Waterford beat St. Patrick's Athletic 3-1, while Drogheda United overcame Bohemians 2-1, with Evan Weir scoring an outrageous free kick from close to the halfway line.
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