Rodgers stands by criticism of VAR after Hearts defeat
BRENDAN RODGERS insists he has no regrets over his public condemnation of two match officials which has earned him a disciplinary charge from the SFA.
The Celtic manager accused VAR John Beaton and referee Don Robertson of ‘incompetence’ after being angered by a series of decisions in his team’s 2-0 league defeat at Hearts last Sunday.
Robertson sent off Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun and awarded Hearts a penalty after being advised to review both incidents by Beaton.
Following Rodgers’ outburst, the Scottish Senior Football Referees’ Association hit out at managers who single out officials for criticism — and claimed there are potential consequences when they make them the focus of supporters’ anger.
Ex-Parkhead boss Neil Lennon admitted he was ‘uncomfortable’ at Beaton’s role being highlighted in such a manner, observing there was ‘history’ from the referee’s involvement in an Old Firm match in December 2018 — during Rodgers’ first spell in charge — when Celtic called for the official to explain some of his decisions.
That suggestion was dismissed by Rodgers when he was asked if he had any reservations about having named Beaton. ‘No, we’re all accountable,’ he said. ‘Everyone knows he was the VAR for the game. So it’s not a secret.
‘My point was more that it was someone of that experience who looked at it. I wasn’t calling John out for his name to be out there. It was more about this being a top referee managing the game and supposedly a top referee in VAR, under no pressure. But they still got it wrong.’
Rodgers, meanwhile, expressed his dismay at the circumstances behind winger Liel Abada’s exit to MLS club Charlotte FC in an £8million move.
The Israeli winger found his situation at Celtic untenable amid the pro-Palestinian stance of a section of the support.
‘It’s desperately sad,’ said Rodgers.
‘Through no fault of his own or the club, he’s had to move elsewhere.’