Hearts defender Michael Steinwender was shown a straight red card during Heart of Midlothian's Scottish Cup semi-final tie against Aberdeen this afternoon.
The Austrian was given his marching orders by referee John Beaton after he tackled Topi Keskinen.
The incident occurred close to the half-way line, although the play was inside Hearts' half.
However, the officials deemed the incident to be the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, with the Aberdeen winger's touch taking him in-field towards Craig Gordon's goal before Steinwender's intervention.
RED CARD 🟥
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) April 19, 2025
Hearts defender Michael Steinwender lunges in on Topi Keskinen to stop the winger racing clear... #BBCFootball #ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/P88DIOrAUJ
Under Law 12 of the IFAB Laws, fouls and misconduct, the description accompanying the section relating to denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity reads:
Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending player must be sent off.
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.
A player, sent-off player, substitute or substituted player who enters the field of play without the required referee’s permission and interferes with play or an opponent and denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is guilty of a sending-off offence.
The following must be considered:
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distance between the offence and the goal
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general direction of the play
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likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
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location and number of defenders
