FORMER Socceroo Mark Bosnich has revealed what Tim Cahill said to receive a red card in Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby.

Cahill was sent off as he was preparing to come onto the ground as a substitute, with the Melbourne City forward receiving a straight red for “insulting, offensive, abusive language used towards a match official.”

Speaking on Fox Sports’ Shootout, Bosnich confirmed Cahill’s card was for abusing an official after referee Chris Beath had ruled Victory’s controversial late winner — an own goal to City’s Manny Muscat — would stand.

Tim Cahill of City is given a red card. Source: AAP

“I’ve spoken to him (Cahill), to be fair to him, he told me and he said I could say it straight,” Bosnich said.

“He was red-carded by the referee (because) he told the referee to ‘have a look at the big screen’ and that ‘you’re a effing disgrace’ ... He said nothing more, nothing less.

“He’s not excusing it in any type of way nor is he hiding from it, he’ll take any punishment that’s afforded to him.

“But that’s basically exactly what he said.”