Brendan Rodgers spoke about whether Celtic will complain to the SFA post-match after questionable VAR decisions in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts.
With Celtic having Yang Hyun-jun sent off and a penalty given, despite Referee Don Robertson making clear decisions on both, with Yang’s foul deemed to be a yellow card by Robertson before a VAR intervention.
VAR official John Beaton played a big part in the course of the game with his words to Robertson to go to the VAR monitor for each decision, ultimately changing the course of the game in Hearts’ favour.
Rodgers said: (Herald Scotland), “I don’t know (if Celtic will complain), we will go away and have a look at it. But it doesn’t’ change anything, that’s the reality. I was so disappointed.
“In my time up here I’m not one to have a go at refs because I understand it’s a very, very difficult position they are in. I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt.
“But I think when I see that level of incompetence is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game. In such a tight title race, which it is and it’s fantastic and great to be involved in, that can make the difference. And that today made the difference for us.”
Rodgers ultimately leaves the decision over whether to complain with the Celtic board, and rightly so.
As manager, he has other things to worry about, like day-to-day training and how players recover from the Hearts game.
👀📸PICTURED: Rangers CEO James Bisgrove and Celtic counterpart Michael Nicholson arrive at Hampden for meeting of SPFL Premiership Clubs pic.twitter.com/rad8NtUJdO
— PLZ Soccer (@PLZSoccer) February 19, 2024
Discussions with the SFA are best left for the Celtic board to decide, including key figures like Michael Nicholson, who was recently pictured at Hampden discussing the outcome of an independent governance review.
Staying professional but also holding the SFA accountable is the best course of action, and Rodgers maintained his professionalism and class when speaking to journalists after the game, refusing to directly state that the club would complain to the SFA.
Cochrane new what he was doing getting his head in there but his boots high I’m surprised how many poor tackles the hearts fullback was ignored by Robertson wasn’t slow to show yellow for other tackles apart from going down to ten men we missed a penalty which would have brought hearts out yes Celtic had no luck I knew Beeston would play a big part in the game we missed chances idah transfer went bavmck down to three with chances missed header right in front of goal but he worked his socks of kyoko seems only black abuse is highlighted disgraceful what abuskyoko and maeda iwata got from not so full tynecastle spl has to make clubs allow a fair away tickets avaliable like the Scottish cup the empty spaces at tynecastle rugby park and other grounds that cut away tickets make spl poor and
Jsck whayt the fuck is your typing ? Spelling awful . HAIL HAIL .
Hearts think the are a big club looking at today cut celtic tickets to hundreds and thousands of seats lay empty alright Celtic and new co do it but they can fill there stadium hearts can’t how many season books they sell I’d say going by today 8 thousand and it like some other clubs if there was no sky money they would be giving Celtic thousands of tickets the atmosphere was poor what used to be a great atmosphere now it was poor till they got there second maybe they thought it influenced the officails ud don’t think that influence them they were playing Celtic not officail favoured club
Agree . That game is going world wide and nobody in Scottish football gives a fuck , Embarrassing for Bigoted Scotland . 💚🍀
It’s the kind of appalling refereeing we witnessed today that adds fuel to the conspiracy theory that Scotland’s match officials are largely anti-Catholic bigots who use their authority in crucial games to alter outcomes. I must say personally that the theory does hold some water when looking back over a few seasons of red card and penalty calls, but today seemed blatant.
Regardless of how much the Scottish Government, the SFA and other corporate bodies may deny it, Scotland remains and entrenched anti-Catholic country at almost every level, and I speak from personal experience. There needs to be a very open and public enquiry into match officals to determine whether or not they have Rangers, Hearts or Masonic affiliation. Those who do should not be permitted to officiate again for obvious reasons. Another investigation should be carried out to determine how many Catholic Vs. Protestant officials are operating in the Scottish game. If nothing else, such enquiries and investigations would clear up once and for all the notion that officials are bigoted in any way. I would much rather the SFA cleared the entire Scottish contingent and filled the vacancies with foreign, non-partizan officials who actually know the rules of the game and stick rigidly to them. As things stand, Celtic will continue to be on the receiving end of questionable decisions that seem to be more than just incompetence.
Bigoted Scotland is full of sectarian scum what chance us . 💚💚💚💚💚🍀 . HAIL HAIL .
Seems to be forgotten that we also got a dodgy penalty today from the match officials but blew it.
Hearts didn’t.
Terry Munro,
Yes, Celtic got a dodgy penalty, but not remotely as dodgy as the one awarded to Hearts. Maybe the idea was to give Celtic a penalty early on before swinging the game massively in Hearts favour. That way the match officials, if accused, could point to the Celtic penalty as proof of their officiating fairness. Far fetched or cleverly worked? Hmmm!
We blew our own chances, just the same as we have done throughout the season.
Rodgers can’t motivate the team.
Celtic should still beat a team even when a man down, unless your playing a top European team.
The result was expected.
The signing policy is and has been done for profit bonus not team winning bonus, we know The other Lawell has to go with his son for failure.
However I’ve stated since November that Rodgers had to go before it’s to late, we have waited to long and once again done the same as we Did with Lennon.
Rodgers has no idea on how to get the best out of players, a win v Dundee was just a flash I the pan.
Rodgers is not the man for celtic.
The players can organise their own playing style, the tea lady cn pick the team and call the subs.
We are GIFTING The Rangers the league.
Davie
I absolutely agree. Bad officiating by referees would not be so much of a problem for Celtic if the team was strong and dynamic, as it was under Ange Postecoglu. Brendan Rodgers, despite the hype about how great a manager he is, has destroyed a great team and turned them into easy prey for even the lowest teams in the league. It has been pretty dire to watch all season and it does seem that he has completely broken the spirit of those players. They no longer play with belief.