Brendan Rodgers charged for questioning 'competence' of officials
Rodgers was critical of the refereeing performance during Celtic's 2-0 loss at Hearts
Last updated 6th Mar 2024
Brendan Rodgers has been charged by the Scottish FA for questioning the 'competence' of referees during Celtic's 2-0 defeat at Hearts.
The Northern Irishman felt the match was "decided by the officials".
Rodgers has been handed a Notice of Complaint by the governing body's compliance officer and could now face a match ban.
The hearing will take place on Thursday March 28.
Hyun-Jun Yang was sent off for a high challenge in the 16th minute at Tynecastle.
The South Korean was initially yellow-carded before match referee Don Robertson upgraded it to a red after being advised by VAR John Beaton to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Hearts were then awarded a penalty in the 40th minute after a headed clearance from Liam Scales landed on Tomoki Iwata's arm as he rose to try and head it out of the box, after another on-field review.
Jorge Grant scored the spot-kick and Lawrence Shankland netted the hosts' second goal in the 56th minute.
After the game Rodgers said: "My feeling is that the game was decided by the officials, on the field and outside of the field.
"You guys (the media) will know me long enough to know that I don't really comment on officials - they make mistakes and whatever else - but today that felt like really really poor officiating.
"The first one is the sending off when there is no force. Show a still image of that and of course you will see a foot up with the head near it, but it's not the reality of the move.
"Don Robertson actually got it right on the field. It was a high boot, so it's a yellow card - no malice or force.
"For John Beaton to actually look at that in VAR, supposedly under no pressure, and say that was a sending off, I find that incredible.
"The second one (Hearts' penalty) is worse. If you have a penalty go against you for that then there will be penalties every single weekend and midweek.
"I don't know what he (Iwata) is supposed to do. Tomo is jumping, he got a nudge, he is coming down, the ball falls on to his arm and there is no intention to move.
"Then you get the penalty against and he gets the chance to look at it and see it. That really left us with an uphill task in the game but credit to my players, they kept going, their keeper has made a few good saves.
"But it was a poor day for the officials. I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt, but when I see that level of incompetence, which is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game.
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