Brendan Rodgers gave four post match interviews at Tynecastle today, the one with Celtic TV can safely be ignored.
With Sky Sports John Beaton was called out for his interpretation of the Laws of the Game with two ridiculous decisions going against Celtic.
Interviewed by Brian McLaughlin for BBC Scotland the Celtic boss mentioned incompetence, a phrase that he referred to again in his all in media conference for broadcasters and legacy media.
Using the phrase incompetence seems certain to lead to a Disrepute charge from the SFA- and a nightmare for Michael Nicholson as he is forced to either back his manager or the organisation that has had a strange grip over Celtic since July 2012.
The all-in media conference is published in full below.
What was your take and thoughts on the match?
Rodgers: My feeling is the game was decided by the officials. On the field and outside of the field. You guys know me well enough and I have been around long enough to know that I don’t really comment on officials. I know that they make mistakes and whatever else but today that felt like really poor officiating. I think the first one – the sending off – there is no force but if you show a still image of that then, of course, it looks like a high boot with the head near it. It is not the reality of the move.
If you watch the move again Don (Robertson), actually got it right on the field, it was a high boot, okay, so it’s a yellow card. There is no malice or force and then for John Beaton to look at that on VAR supposedly under no pressure and to say that was a sending-off, I find that incredible.
The second one is worse. To have a penalty go against you for that then there would be penalties every single weekend and midweek. I don’t know what Tommo (Tomoki Iwata) is supposed to do. He is jumping and he’s got a nudge and he’s coming down and the ball goes onto his arm.
There is no intention to move it or anything and you get the penalty against you. Again they get the chance to look at it and see it, so to give those two decisions left us with an uphill task in the game. Credit to my players because they fought and kept going and their goalkeeper has made a few good saves which could have changed the momentum of the game. It was a poor day for the officials.
Do the managers talk about it?
Rodgers: I think is discussed and I have the delegate wanting to speak to me. Waste of time, waste of energy, because there is no change. ‘I do not come in here crying about referees, be it here or the EPL, because I understand there will be mistakes made. That today was awful officiating in what was a big game for us.
Will Celtic complain about John Beaton?
Rodgers: I don’t know. We will go away and have a look at it. But it doesn’t change anything, that’s the reality. It was so disappointing.
Is that the worst officiating you’ve had in two spells here?
Rodgers: I think so. 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 to be involved in, that can make the difference. That today made a difference for us.
CLICK HERE for Rodgers interview with BBC Scotland
CLICK HERE for SSB caller claims Lawwell better than Larsson.
🗣️ “The game was refereed outside of the field today”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers described some of the officiating in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts as “really poor”. pic.twitter.com/frPxGFCU4n
— BBC Sport Scotland (@BBCSportScot) March 3, 2024
