Brendan Rodgers, manager of Celtic, did not mince words following the team’s loss to Hearts recently. His strong comments regarding the referee and VAR official’s decisions have yet to fully play out.
Rodgers criticized VAR official John Beaton and referee Don Robertson for their questionable calls, including the controversial penalty awarded to Hearts and the red card given to Hyunjan Yang.
The Scottish FA has taken action by imposing a two-match touchline ban on Rodgers, a decision that Celtic plans to appeal at an upcoming hearing on March 28th. If the ban stands, Rodgers will miss crucial matches against Livingston and Rangers during the title race.
While some speculate about the impact of Rodgers’ absence on the team’s performance, former Celtic captain Paul Lambert believes it ultimately comes down to the players to deliver on the pitch. Regardless of whether Rodgers is present on the sidelines, the players must take responsibility for their performance.
Lambert emphasizes that Rodgers has prepared the team well and instilled discipline, so the players should be able to execute the game plan even without their manager’s physical presence. Rodgers’ instructions will be relayed to the team during the match, ensuring they are equipped to handle different scenarios.
Despite the controversy surrounding Rodgers’ comments and subsequent ban, many agree that his criticisms of the refereeing decisions were justified. The inconsistency in officiating in Scottish football has been highlighted, and the SFA’s decision to penalize Rodgers may draw further attention to this issue.
Overall, the focus should remain on the players’ performance on the pitch, as they are ultimately responsible for delivering results regardless of external factors. Rodgers’ absence may present a challenge, but the team’s preparation and professionalism should see them through.
