In the absence of the club itself making a definitive statement on the SFA and the Rodgers hearing, you just knew that the manager himself was going to have to be the one to come out and comment on it, and today at his press conference he didn’t disappoint.
He tore into the officials yet again and essentially doubled down on his remarks.
“It’s that one game but my observation is over many games, around the inconsistency of decisions. I don’t want to go into it too much, I never talk too much about referees, I understand they make mistakes. But I felt the ones last week were clear errors in the game,” he said.
“The first one, I’ve seen incidents worse than that (not lead to red cards). I thought the on-field decision was correct, the yellow card. We had a report back to say the studs and the boot were in the face of the player, which clearly, a couple of days later, was clearly not the case when you watch it. We’ll go through that and answer it later on in the month.”
When asked if he regretted the comments he made, he was unequivocal.
“Not really. My job is to defend the team and club and that’s what we’ll do in this case. We’ll defend it vigorously and when the day comes, we’ll go from there … I’ll sit down with the club and the lawyers and we’ll look at it from there.”
He and the club – because he’s speaking for them here too, and talking about the lawyers which is interesting – are basically telling the SFA to bring it on. That’s welcome even if it’s taken longer than it should have and is basically the boss himself having to front up.
Still, it doesn’t sound like Rodgers, or Celtic, intend to take this lying down and that’s all to the good because this really is a terrible situation we’re being put in here and everyone knows what’s at the heart of it. Is our club really readying for this though, are we really preparing to take Hampden on with the full force we can muster?
Rodgers thinks so. He sounds like he believes it, and let’s be honest; this board and this club owes him one for the abysmal time of it he’s had to endure here and he’s done it all with equanimity and without overly rocking the boat. The frustrations this club has caused the guy are part of what boiled over the other day when he stood in front of the hacks.
But we also know that the pressure has been on him and us as a club since this season kicked off. Mistakes have been made, and we will have to deal with those and the people responsible for them, but our club has been under siege since the start.
So if we’re coming out swinging it’s not before time and the fans will welcome it.
So too will the manager. We certainly won’t be short of weapons to use and although I think the idea that the timing is in any way designed to “help” us here I suspect we’ll use it appropriately to build our dossier and take these people on properly.
It is overdue. I would love to think this is the start of a bigger push but I don’t have much faith in those who run our club to have that kind of ambition or bottle.
We certainly cannot afford to lose t his fight though, this particular battle, and so when Rodgers says we’ll defend it vigorously I believe it and I look forward to seeing how we handle it.
Celtic need to play hardball on this. The signs are good. Is the Celtic fans protests and the excellent work of our bloggers starting to influence thinking and actions in the boardroom? It may just be the case. It’s definitely welcome. A united Celtic can achieve so much. Credit to Brendan and the board on this. Let’s give the SFA a bloody nose and then go on and win a league and cup double.
It’s been going on for years, wouldn’t know where to start,just wish that the club stand by Brendan all the way through he is getting slaughtered by media, Bigots who since time began think just beat those F….. B……. and everything will be OK
Well hopefully the time is catching up with the all who down us at every turn and the puppets that run and officiate our game have to say wait a minute CELTIC are challenging what we say and do. C.O.Y.B.I.G
rodgers finds himself in a corner because of cheatin Beaton who will damage his career and reputation as a manager if he is let off the hook , this two bit punk a talent less yob would not be allowed ref an under age team if he was in england ,
Whataboutary won’t come into it. I can’t see the SFA showing a willingness to compare Brendan’s situation and comments to that of any other previously from that of another club or manager.
It will take a climb down from the SFA that I don’t foresee and once they’ve made their decision and dished out a punishment what will Celtic do? Find a pair … ? HH
Sorry this has me confused James.
How does ” I suspect we’ll use it appropriately to build our dossier and take these people on properly ” tie in with . “I would love to think this is the start of a bigger push but I don’t have much faith in those who run our club to have that kind of ambition or bottle”.?
I’m in full agreement with the second statement, as soon as the season books are sold this will be dropped.
Remember it’s Lawwell who accepted Beatons interpretation of Morelos being a thug and getting off scot free which has us in this position. The fact that Lawwell never shared why he accepted Beatons excuses with the Celtic fans was a scandal I was shouting about at the time. Why do our fans continue to accept this?
We’ll mount a good case is what I mean. We’ll go in with the guns loaded, and Brendan defintely fired a warning shot.
But it’s what we do if we DON’T get the result that interests me. I suspect nothing, which is why we’ll go all out to get the verdict.
I am just not sure what this board is willing to do if we don’t.
Goldson “Cantona ” flying kick on the livi player is inexcusable that sevco got a goal after his flying kick is just blatant cheating
Hillbilly looking Causland dived for a penalty in his first ever sevco game and like Goldson it was plain as day Cheating especially with var, but still sevco get penalty:-)
The cheating this year is on a par with the EBT years.. media, refs,sfa all in to help sevco win league.. they all know if sevco don’t win the league they join daddy gers:-)
What a laugh it will be if sevco fail to win league after about 20 honest mistakes going in their favour this season:)
TIC tock TIC tock goes the admin clock
The second last paragraph is where Im at just now. I watched BRs press conf and it gave me a bit of hope. But I feel this will be like the winter transfer window. Big build up, with all the hope that something exciting is going to unfold, only to be let down yet again. The club will accept the 2 match ban, and no doubt issue a statement about their disappointment. Lets face it. This board really don’t have the backbone to take on the SFA. They just seem impotent when it comes to a challenge. Unless something good lands in their lap, they just don’t seem capable of actually taking this club forward and challenging authority! It’s almost like the SFA has something over us….! Just another reason for an absolute clearout at board level!
Hail hail Brendan don’t give in to this corupt sfa and Thier cheating refereeing buddies
I would be shocked if the board backed the manager.
If they were going to back the manager they’d have done it by now.
The quiet man from Carnlough has become The quiet assassin from The Glens of Antrim…
He is wielding and swinging The Hurley Stick and wielding it with Irish vigour as well –
And not before fcukin time either….
ABSOLUTELY FCUKIN BRILLIANT BRENDAN !!!!!
James, with everything that’s went on this season…the poor performances, recruitment, and criticism of our board ( all fully merited.)
You would have to feel or sense that something had to be a catalyst for this board of ours to finally waken up from their self enforced slumbers, and do something meaningful and meritable.
Although most of us are very doubtful that they’ll finally make a stand on behalf of our club, manager, team & fanbase, maybe, just maybe last Sunday, was that seminal moment. ( apologies for being an eternal optimist !)
Is this the butterfly wing beat that starts the hurricane?
I sincerely hope so, and that this may be the start of something big, leading to the collapse and/or full investigation into our tainted officials and those that back them.
I did say earlier, that I’m an eternal optimist!
Only time-whatever that may be-will tell.
Time to bring this whole corrupt SFA and referee situation to a head. It has been happening for decades, but now it is on TV, and cannot brushed aside. Celtic must back Brendan and take this all the way. Enough is enough
Hope the club back the manager unfortunately can’t see it happening,lawell still runs the show and I think he would stab Brendan in the back at every opportunity.
He will hold Brendan responsible, ignoring the fact he was useless for that’s ma boy being sacked .
I think Brendan is being set up by daddy lawell he’s on a revenge mission.
I fear the club will never move forward positively until p lawell and his yes men are gone for good (wishful thinking)
Why is Brendan being left to front this? This is what got him into bother with the authorities in the first place. I welcome the push back if that is, indeed, what Celtic is planning. But Brendan needs to be told to keep it light and let the invisible ones do the talking for Celtic.
If you cannot read Paul Larkin’s Book, Anyone but Celtic, watch the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Ld__g_L3A
John Beaton should be charged with bringing the Scottish Premiership into disrepute
and it must be adjudicated by UEFA officials not SFA.
Oh to be a fly on the wall that day
It’s the time now for us to be on the front foot against the SFA and the refereeing association,the stand has to be made and this is the perfect time, for transparency in the refereeing decisions and their allegiances to what ever team they support.
Of course, the support would welcome a strong challenge to the SFA,
their dodgy match officials – and the ‘inconsistencies’ at Hampden.
But, we’d also be a wee bit daft to expect any different behaviours
from our Board – after far too many years of mute, subservience?
🙁
Of course, the support would welcome a strong challenge to the SFA,
their dodgy match officials – and the ‘inconsistencies’ at Hampden.
But, we’d also be a wee bit daft to expect any different behaviours
from our Board – after far too many years of mute, subservience?
🙁