Martin O’Neill has spoken about Reo Hatate’s red card following Celtic’s hard-fought 2-2 draw with Bologna in the Europa League.
The incident proved a major turning point in the contest at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium. What had been a strong opening period for Celtic quickly turned into a test of discipline and endurance as Bologna increased the pressure.
Despite the setback, Celtic showed resolve to come away with a point. Playing more than an hour a man down, the Hoops were forced into deep defensive work as the Italian side pushed for a winner.
After the match, O’Neill was asked directly about the sending-off and his reaction to it. The Irishman gave a clear account after having time to review the incident away from the touchline.
He said: (Celtic FC YouTube), “I’ve seen it back, which I didn’t see at the time. I thought it was really innocuous, and I still think it is.
“I don’t think that Reo meant to foul him. I think he was being held back to begin with, and he swings round a little bit, a wee bit petulantly in that sense, but that wasn’t the reason for it.
“It was actually stamping on the lad’s foot. Now, I think it was completely accidental.
“However, I think really, when you’ve just been booked before that, you should try to stay out of it because the ball looked as if it was going to go out of play. Never mind anything else, it is incredibly frustrating.
“Young Reo has apologised profusely to us all, but listen, fine. At the end of it all, if we’d had him for the rest of the game, until they get really, really tired, I think we would have won.”
The dismissal changed Celtic’s approach almost instantly. With a lead to protect and limited options on the bench, the focus shifted toward shape and recovery rather than control of possession.
Hatate’s early contribution made the situation harder to take. His opening goal had settled Celtic and allowed them to play with confidence before the match turned on its head.
O’Neill’s comments showed frustration but also perspective. While unhappy with the outcome, he acknowledged the situation and pointed to moments where greater caution could have helped.
The apology from Hatate to his teammates was noted. The response on the pitch suggested the squad remained united, with players stepping in to cover spaces and protect each other.
From that point onward, Celtic were under sustained pressure. Defenders were called on to block shots and clear lines, while midfielders covered ground to slow Bologna’s tempo.
The draw keeps Celtic alive in the Europa League league phase. With one game remaining, qualification remains achievable, though the effort required in Italy will have taken its toll.
Attention now turns quickly to domestic matters. A demanding trip to Tynecastle awaits, with little time for recovery after such a draining European night.
For O’Neill, the performance reinforced belief in the group’s character. Playing so long with ten men and still taking a point underlined resilience within the squad.
The Bologna match may be remembered less for the incident itself and more for how Celtic reacted to it. Under pressure and reduced in numbers, they stayed in the fight and came away with something to show for it.
