Get the latest Celtic news delivered straight to your inbox with our newsletter
We have newsletters
Get the latest Celtic news delivered straight to your inbox with our newsletter
We have newsletters
Brendan Rodgers will miss a Celtic game after his furious complaint about the quality of refereeing in their defeat to Hearts.
The angry Parkhead boss was accused of violating SFA Disciplinary Rule 72, which prohibits players or coaches from criticizing referees “in such a manner as to imply bias or incompetence on the part of such an apt referee. “Given that the Celtic boss literally used the word “incompetent” and referred to VAR John Beaton by name, it seemed inevitable that he would face some sort of suspension for his tirade.
Ultimately, Rodgers will miss this weekend’s clash against Livingston, but he will return in time to face the Rangers next weekend after receiving a one-game suspension, one of which is suspended, and especially not the two-game suspension the club has promised. To fight against. . . Famed sports lawyer Nick De Marco, who Record Sport revealed he had recruited, to some extent kept him on the Ibrox bench.
This is the first recorded case of a coach being sanctioned for violating this express rule. Record Sport scoured the history books to locate some of the other notable examples.
Falkirk’s boss at the time was angry at whistler John McKendrick for his display in the 3-1 loss to Rangers at Ibrox when the Gers were in the league. He said Wilson had noticed red as he hit “the worst resolution I’ve noticed in years. ” after Tom Taiwo was penalised for a foul that led to Nicky Law’s goal. He also reported that the referee had been influenced through the Rangers team at half-time.
Verdict: One fit suspension (1 suspended)
Hibs manager Lennon stayed off the touchline for the first three games of the 2018/19 season after his performance on the touchline following his side’s remarkable 5-5 draw with Rangers. His famous birthday party “flying in the air” earned him a 3-a-large suspension from the game: one for misconduct and two others that were carried over from a previous suspended suspension. In fact, in March, he lashed out at Kevin Clancy and accused him of on-court misconduct and violation of Rule 72 with his post-game commentary.
Verdict: 3 fitness suspensions (2 suspended)
Hearts boss Levin said it like “playing against 12 men” when the Hearts lost 2-1 to Rangers in January 2019. This didn’t win thanks to the in-form referee, and he temporarily ignored the compliance officer’s popular complaint. He sat in the stands during the Scottish Cup draw against Livingston that month.
Verdict: 1 gambling ban (1 suspended)
Now, Scotland manager Clarke has been banished from the touchline for his final game as Kilmarnock manager in 2019, the one before his well-known post-match report of ‘goodbye Rangers’. This is due to comments about Steven McLean, who according to him delivered “the worst functionality I’ve ever noticed in my career” in their defeat to Aberdeen. He missed the clash against Rangers and if he ever returns to control of a Scottish club, another one-match suspension awaits him.
Verdict: 2 fit suspensions (1 suspended)
Beaton in Kettlewell’s crosshairs in 2020 when the Ross County coach claimed he “treated him like a second-half citizen” when he sent into the stands against Livingston. He also faced a rate of misconduct, which resulted in a hefty disciplinary sanction.
Verdict: 3 fitness suspensions (2 suspended)
And another Ross County chief, Yogi, was absent from the Dingwall bench for two games the following year when he claimed some referees had a “personality bypass” when they put on a uniform. The first game of his suspension was against Hamilton, where he was joined by his manager Brian Rice in the stands, as he is also serving a suspension.
Verdict: 2 bans (2 suspended)