Rangers and the rest of the SPFL will be watching on after Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers took aim at the referees following defeat to Hearts.
The Parkhead side blew their chance to regain top spot in the Scottish Premiership by succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against the Jambos at Tynecastle.
This came after Rangers had been beaten 2-1 by Motherwell at Ibrox the day before, handing Celtic a golden opportunity to claim the Scottish Premiership title momentum.
But after his side were defeated, Brendan Rodgers might be awaiting an SFA citation and Rangers surely won’t be the only ones watching on.
Brendan Rodgers left furious with referees
Speaking after the defeat to Hearts, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers took aim at the officiating and namely VAR operator John Beaton.
The Celtic boss – who saw his side awarded an awfully soft penalty in the opening stages which they went on to miss – was unhappy at two major decisions in the match.
Namely, Korean winger Yang was sent packing for a high boot in the first half after a VAR review whilst Hearts were awarded a penalty for a controversial Tomoki Iwata handball.
Appearing to shift the focus onto John Beaton at full-time – the referee subject to continuing pro-Rangers conspiracy theories from Celtic fans – do the comments fall into citation territory?
”I never like to comment on officials,” said Rodgers. “But that cost us today, the officiating on-field, John Beaton being in VAR, that was really, really poor.
“That there is absolutely shocking decision-making and I feel really, really disappointed.
“You will probably have to ask John Beaton in VAR what he’s seeing, because if he’s seeing that dangerous play and he’s seeing the handball he’s probably seeing something different to everyone else. Unless you’re connected with Hearts of course. I just think they’re seeing a different game.”
Speaking in a press conference after the game, Rodgers added: “My feeling is that the game was decided by the officials. On the field and outside of the field.
“There is no change and I also think as well that VAR is not the problem here. That’s clear. It’s competence. And I think the first one is a great example of the game being refereed outside of the pitch.
“I think when I see that level of incompetence it’s the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game.”
Celtic manager breaches SFA rules after Hearts loss
Over the years, several Scottish Premiership managers have been banned for comments made about referees in the aftermath of matches.
The SFA rules have been designed to protect referees from personal attacks from managers and one wonders if the professional members’ body will defend their whistler John Beaton.
Rule 72 – which Rodgers is clearly in breach of for even using the word “incompetence” – states:
“No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, shall in an interview, a ‘blog’ on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the Decision(s) and/or performance(s) of any or all match official(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character.”
Scotland manager Steve Clarke was handed a two match ban for comments made about Steven McLean in 2019, whilst Craig Levein was given a one match ban for suggesting his side were “playing against 12 men” v Rangers in the same season.
Former Falkirk manager Craig Houston is another example, having been handed a ban for comments he made after a defeat at Ibrox in 2015.
We’ve got to say, whether you think the decisions were right or wrong, the notion that both the calls are outright incorrect and not, at the very best, up for debate is ridiculous.
Yang’s boot was unnecessarily high and Brendan Rodgers had no issue with St Mirren’s Toyosi Olusanya being sent off by the referees in similar circumstances against Celtic only two months ago.
In further evidence of the rules being applied safely and fairly, only last season was Killie striker Kyle Vassell sent off for a high boot following a VAR review in a match v Hibs.
The Parkhead manager can also bemoan the controversial hand ball penalty decision, but Iwata’s hand is outside the silhouette and it changes the trajectory of the ball in the box.
To suggest that Celtic have somehow been robbed here is desperate stuff.
How the situation pans out will be of significant interest to Rangers and the rest of the clubs in the SPFL.
Surely no-one is above the law in Scottish football and if the Celtic manager gets off with these comments then it further highlights why half the Premiership has called into question a recent “independent review” into the state of the game’s governance.
