Brendan Rodgers: Celtic manager slams ‘absolutely shocking decision-making’ by officials after defeat at Hearts

At Tynecastle Park, the first half was filled with incidents. Alex Cochrane’s barge on Hyun-Jun Yang led to a penalty

kick for Celtic.

A few minutes after Adam Idah’s penalty kick was saved, Yang received a red card when Cochrane’s high boot was

flagged by VAR.

when decision left Rodgers seething with the Celtic coach subsequently admitting it was “absolutely shocking” when

Hearts were granted a penalty for Tomoki Iwata’s handball after referee Don Robertson went for a second look at the

monitor.

“I never want to criticise on officials but that cost us today. The officiating was absolutely bad, from John Beaton on

VAR to the on-field officials.

“When you place a still on the first event [red card], it appears scary, but that’s not how the action actually happened.

“The ball has popped up; there is no force there. A reservation has been made. Going down to 10 men for that is

really frustrating, but getting penalised for it against us—wow, that was even worse.

“If you rewatch the incident, you’ll see that Tomoki leaped, fell, and didn’t glance back after getting slightly bumped,

which caused him to extend his arm.

“You will have penalties in every game and every week if it is a penalty.

“I feel so bad for our players and our fans because that was an incredibly upsetting choice.

“They’re not considering the activity and movement as they really are. Naturally, it appears scary if you freeze frame,

but you have to view things in their proper context.

“I found the authorities to be really subpar, which was rather upsetting.

“You’ll need to find out what John Beaton is seeing in VAR. Unless, of course, you’re connected to Hearts, he’s

definitely seeing something different from everyone else if he interprets that as a risky play instead of a handball!

“I just think they’re seeing a different game and it’s incidents like that is why referees and officials get challenged

because that’s not seeing the game.”

The Sky Sports analysts concurred with the Celtic manager, stating that Neil Lennon was perplexed by Yang’s red

card and Kris Boyd was perplexed by the penalty call.

“Yang is merely attempting to flick it; there is no force involved, and Alex enters with his head. Though not much,

there is contact “said Lennon.

“Alex falls like you would expect him to, but in football, you can tell who is trying to kick someone in the head and

who isn’t.

Yang is not that kind of athlete. How you can consider that a straight red card is beyond me.”

Boyd remarked on Hearts’ penalty kick: “This week hasn’t gone well for VAR.

“I’m not sure what Alistair Johnston is supposed to be doing when he goes into Iwata’s back.

“His hand is extended, but hurry up! Where is the game heading if we’re penalising for that?

“Shambles, Iwata isn’t even looking at the ball, Johnston pushes him and he’s trying to make a genuine attempt for

the ball,” said former Celtic boss Lennon.

It’s beyond me how you can consider it to be a penalty.

“Those two are big moments in the game for Celtic.”