Plastic still a big issue for Rodgers

BRENDAN RODGERS has called on local and central government to help make plastic pitches a thing of the past in the top flight of Scottish football. Tomorrow, the Celtic boss takes his on-form side to face Livingston — currently one of three synthetic surfaces in the division. Rodgers accepts that the West Lothian club, together with the likes of Kilmarnock and Hamilton, have sound economic reasons for playing on plastic. However, insisting that the image of the Premiership is done no favours by a quarter of its clubs currently opting against grass, Rodgers believes there is a wider responsibility to ensure clubs aren’t forced to persevere with Astroturf purely for monetary reasons. ‘For me, the Premiership is the flagship of Scottish football and there should not be Astroturf

pitches in it. Simple as that,’ stated Rodgers. ‘If this is the flagship league, which it is, we shouldn’t have them. ‘I also think the teams which do have them need help as well. Obviously, they need to generate money. ‘But let’s see if government, councils, can help the teams that have them find an artificial pitch somewhere else close by and let the main stadiums be grass. ‘We are trying to promote a level and a standard. Whether we like it or not, that does not make the flagship league in Scotland the best standard. ‘I respect and understand all the stuff that comes with the community clubs. It’s not just their fault. They need help. So can we, in football and in government, help the teams?’ The SPFL are currently locked in talks with broadcasters over the next TV deal to run from 2020. Concerned that the image of the game isn’t done any favours by a high percentage of plastic surfaces, Rodgers would like to see those who have them balance their books by putting them down elsewhere. ‘There are enough teams, Motherwell, Dundee, Partick Thistle when they were there, St Johnstone, that have fantastic pitches,’ he said. ‘St Johnstone have a lovely grass pitch and, just outside of it, they have an Astroturf pitch to make the money from the community. ‘If they need to train and work there, that’s what they do. So we have to promote a standard because it is beamed around the world.’ Unsure as to whether he will risk Filip Benkovic at the Tony Macaroni Arena tomorrow, Rodgers added: ‘I just think it’s standards. I’m not so sure about the injury thing. You get injuries on good pitches. ‘I think it’s about standards and the quality of game for supporters. I have never seen a good game on an Astroturf pitch. I’m sure we’re not going to see the best game at the weekend. But we have to find three points.’ Celtic go into it on the back of an epic win over RB Leipzig on Thursday which kept alive their hopes of Europa League progress. Now level with the Germans on six points, they must better Leipzig’s points tally from the remaining two games to make the last 32. Despite having 12 points, Salzburg need one more against Leipzig in Austria on the night Celtic travel to face Rosenborg to make absolutely certain of progression.