Haiti rightly furious over Kenny McLean 'red card' controversy vs Scotland - Keith Hackett

Steve Clarke's Scotland were fortunate to keep all 11 players on the pitch against Haiti after a dangerous challenge from Kenny McLean.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Norwich City midfielder endangered the safety of his opponent at the Boston Stadium.

The Tartan Army kickstarted their 2026 World Cup campaign with a narrow win over the team ranked 83rd in the world, with the only goal coming from Aston Villa's John McGinn.

Matters could have been very different on Sunday, 14 June, though, with Haiti fans and players feeling hard done by missing out on two potential penalties.

In addition to two different handball claims against Hibernian's Grant Hanley, the Scots could have had a man sent off in the sixth minute of added time.

McLean went crashing into Haiti's Josue Casimir, catching the substitute on the knee, forcing the attacker to seek medical attention before continuing with a slight limp.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said that the challenge easily could have ended in a red card, voicing his concerns about VAR's lack of intervention.

"The boot is above waist height. I think he's coming in with speed; he's not off the ground, so he's got a degree of control, but he could have stopped," he said.

"He could have avoided that challenge, so for me it's certainly reckless so that's the yellow card. But it's using excessive force and it's endangered the safety of the opponent by the very nature of the landing area.

"He's very fortunate not to receive a red card. And again, why didn't VAR come in on this? I guess VAR officials have been told it's got to be clear and obvious. There's a threshold that's got to be met.

"I think this meets the threshold. I think this warrants the referee taking a second look because it's probable that the challenge is covering the actual position of the boot and landing area.

"Haiti have been on the wrong end of a couple of calls that could easily have gone their way but didn't. I guess they have a right to be disappointed."

As previously mentioned, anyone associated with Haiti were fuming after the game, with two penalty shouts falling upon deaf ears at the Boston Stadium.

Hanley was involved both times. On the first occasion, Ruben Providence's shot appeared to strike the defender's dangling hand inside the area.

Then, just six minutes later, Wolves' Jean-Ricner Bellegarde saw his long-range effort blocked by the Hibernian man, with his arm used once again.

Twice did the Scots escape, and combined with the missed red card, Haiti will feel that they could have gotten at least a point from the game under different circumstances.