With their trademark disappointed statement Celtic hoped to wrap up that awkward little incident at the start of the month against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Prompted by the notorious John Beaton on VAR duty, Don Robertson made two match turning decisions that contributed greatly to Celtic losing to Hearts and missing out on going to the top of the SPFL Premiership with nine matches left to play.
Afterwards Brendan Rodgers used the word incompetent in various media interviews, that landed him a Notice of Complaint.
Five days after the match Rodgers was standing his ground as he faced the media, sadly there was no comment from either Michael Nicholson or Peter Lawwell, they failed even to leak their anger at the performances of Beaton to their network of media messengers.
Instead some fan media outlets were fed the line that Celtic were getting ‘all lawyered up’ for Rodgers’ Hampden appearance, there was suggestions of a Desmond Dossier and a bulldozer being readied to blast away at the Old Boy Refereeing Network.
@CelticFC Plc yet again demonstrating their lack of backbone!
Fans are left in the dark about the basis of the appeal and the reason for decision. Seems it’s still pay up and shut up!
Did we really hire a crack legal expert for this? Waste of money 😡 https://t.co/rRcijOEQ2n— Eddie Toner (@eddie_toner) March 28, 2024
Crawford Allan’s resignation was viewed as the outcome of Celtic’s pressure being exerted, others feared the damage that could be done with Allan remaining in control until the end of the season before he joins former colleagues on the After Dinner circuit.
Those worries were confirmed on Tuesday when Robertson was announced as the referee for Sunday’s match away to Livingston- his first match since teaming up with Beaton at Tynecastle.
On Wednesday the Daily Record were gifted the news that Nick de Marco was representing Rodgers at Hampden, apparently the Lionel Messi of Sports Law. That report also carried the claim that Celtic were surprised at Robertson’s appointment at Livingston, surprised but accepting.
Any expectations of Celtic finally questioning the goings on at the SFA were ended by the clearly disappointed statement, the reaction from fans was 90% hostile with only a few claiming that the club had won the case and laid down a marker on the SFA.
On Tuesday the SFA will announce the match officials for the April 7 Glasgow Derby, with Allan calling the shots it is 50-50 whether Beaton will be watching from the Crown Bar or centre stage at Ibrox taking charge of the fixture he craves.
A disappointed statement from Celtic following that match probably won’t wash with many supporters with the Season Ticket renewal campaign about to be launched.
CLICK HERE for Celtic refuse tickets to Ibrox.
CLICK HERE for Celtic statement on Rodgers suspension.
Back of the bus FC
— CG44 (@Ticketustastic) March 28, 2024
They could have gotten me to defend him, and the outcome would have been the same.
— Glasgowsmilesbetter (@theoldgovanarm1) March 28, 2024
The sooner that boardroom is cleared out the better. How we get to that stage is the problem
— Tommy Reilly (@TommyReilly70) March 28, 2024
Well done. 👏🏻👏🏻
You really stuck it right to them, didn’t you?
And we just accept the ban rather than inviting them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine? 🤦🏻♂️
Absolutely spineless.
— Andy P (@DroooPeacock) March 28, 2024
Pity we didn’t hire good players last summer
— MacLoch (@weeramborossa) March 28, 2024
How many times does this Board need to be disappointed before they actually do something. Total waste of space that keeps lining it’s own pockets…
— The Rodfather (@rodfather67) March 28, 2024
Cowardly Celtic board let the supporters down again
Instead of calling out the Corruption and cheating they say ” they are disappointed but will accept the decision ”
These old decrepit men need hounded and forced out our club
They have destroyed what our club stands for— Dannylogan (@Dannylo89011163) March 28, 2024
Gutless once more, either that or you’re both in cahoots to come to some sort of face saving mutual agreement.
— Cecil Teapot Jnr (@TeapotJnr) March 28, 2024
What we can tell from that is that the disciplinary panel knew he was correct, proved he was correct, but had to be seen as issuing a punishment.
So what happens now with those officials ?— 🤘R4tser ラット 🐈⬛ (@R4tser) March 29, 2024
Tell them to stick their suspension and that you will not accept being cheated week on week, grow a spine for once. If you won’t, let someone else do the job that you can’t 🍀
— batfink🦇 (@StevenL79438939) March 28, 2024
