Former referees referred the SFA as ‘arrogant’ following Don Robertson’s Celtic hiring

The SFA’s selection to appoint Don Robertson as the referee for the upcoming Livingston vs Celtic match has sparked controversy, given its timing just days after Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is set to research the result of his disciplinary hearing.

Rodgers faces the opportunity of a two-game touchline ban for a heated outburst directed at Robertson and VAR legitimate John Beaton following Celtic’s defeat to Hearts in February.

The announcement of Robertson’s venture to the match at Almondvale has raised eyebrows, particularly thinking about the context of Rodgers’ pending hearing, which ought to see him absent from the dugout for at least two matches.

The decisions made via Robertson and Beaton in the healthy in opposition to Hearts, including a red card for Yang and a penalty awarded towards Tomoki Iwata after VAR reviews, were the catalyst for Rodgers’ criticism.

The SFA’s choice has been criticised by Des Roache and Steve Conroy, two former Category 1 Referees, on their podcast. They took to Twitter to specific their disapproval, labelling the selection as “arrogant, distasteful, and disrespectful.”

They argued that whilst golf equipment should no longer influence referee appointments, the SFA may want to have exercised better judgment with the aid of deciding on a distinct official for the game, particularly before the decision of the disciplinary method involving Rodgers.

They posted: “The SFA don’t do themselves or their Referees and favours. While Clubs need to now not get to dictate who receives to Referee their games. It may additionally have been wise to have allotted the recreation to any individual else before the hearing system was concluded.

“This appointment is arrogant, distasteful and disrespectful to all.”

Joe Ledley believes that incremental transition will give Celtics a title advantage, and James Forrest has significance beyond minutes

The Welshman saw Forrest emerge as a Parkhead boy however insists the man can nevertheless have a massive say in Rangers title race.

Joe Ledley joined Celtic as James Forrest used to be beginning out on his fantastic career of medal winning. Fast ahead 14 years and the winger is nevertheless having an influence.

And Ledley reckons his historical team-mate and buddy can once more be a key contributor as the champions try to see off the mission of Rangers and claim their trendy crown. 32-year-old Forrest has been a peripheral figure through most of the marketing campaign with Brendan Rodgers trying a variety of huge options. However, no one at the membership has greater journey of prevailing titles than Forrest and he gave be aware of his modern-day well being with a lovely strike for a aim in Celtic’s remaining day out in opposition to St Johnstone 10 days ago.

The attacker is now in line for any other opportunity against Livingston on Sunday and Ledley says Forrest’s valuable nous will be key in the weeks ahead. The Welshman, who signed just a few weeks after Forrest made his top-team debut below the administration of Neil Lennon against Motherwell in 2010, reckons there’s no alternative for know-how when it comes to the nitty-gritty stage of the term.

With 23 winners’ medals on his CV which includes eleven titles, Rodgers, who was boss for two of those, is aware of he has a man who can celebrity within his unit. Ledley said: “Obviously, Jamesy is very skilled now. It is in reality some thing that’s vital and you only have to seem returned at what he has won for Celtic. It is remarkable.

“It’s excellent to see him getting some greater minutes on the pitch as well now due to the fact he has been unfortunate with accidents in his career and also thru this season. To have any person like that with that substantial trip of having been there and finished round the coaching floor and bringing humans on is massive at any time, however even extra so this time of a season.

“What you do off the pitch and away from a matchday can be just as treasured to a squad and to a manager. It is all about placing requirements and making sure that every body is up to speed.

“Also making sure anyone round the team realises how lots this title, and any title, skill to the club. Seeing him come on the different day in opposition to St Johnstone and scoring is fantastic, but he can play a large role off the park, too.

“I be aware of he has been restricted with minutes at the moment with some of the different wingers doing so well. Daizen Maeda for example has been doing properly and scored a hat-trick recently.

“It is going to be tough for him to get in there but as soon as you get that chance, it is all about making an have an impact on and Jamesy has shown for a lengthy time he is succesful of doing that.

“What a remarkable career he has had at Celtic. I bear in mind when I signed he was once just coming thru into the first team and I’m sure it was Lenny who gave him his debut.

“You should see even way back then that he was once going to be a unique player. He had the tempo and he had the balance and he simply stored improving his game.

Celtic’s James Forrest (Image: PA)

“He simply started out to get greater and greater dreams and assists and he has been unfortunate in the last few years with injury. He has continually produced for the club.”

With eight games to go, each and every second is going to be vital in the flag fight as the Old Firm go head to head for the honour. With two league derbies in the season remaining, the result of the crunch clashes at Ibrox on Sunday week and Celtic Park after the break up may be pivotal.

Ledley, who will be returned at his ancient membership at the end of May to play in Celtic Legends versus Borussia Dortmund Legends charity match, knows what it takes to deliver in those matches having scored a winner for Lennon’s team as they defeated the Light Blues on their way to the title in 2011/12.

However, though he is conscious the head-to-heads are going to hold essential significance, the former midfielder is cautious about all emphasis going onto the double header. Both Celtic and Rangers have spilled points in different matches this term to attain this point and there ought to be twists and turns away from the derbies.

Ledley said: “It is very tight and, of course, the games between the two teams seem as if they are going to be figuring out video games that dictate who comes out on top.

“But I have seen a few times this season that Celtic and Rangers have slipped up in games the place you felt they would have won and they didn’t. So it is going to be tight. Getting that win in opposition to your competitors in the ultimate two video games in the league is vital.

“But, as I said, we’ve viewed it severa instances this season that there have been slips just when you do not assume it. So if Celtic get that win against Rangers, you can’t think that’s it and the game is over. It’s not. Far from it.

“A draw somewhere and that is two factors of the three factors won long gone and it is all lower back on again. Goal distinction is tight, points are tight, it is going to be one of the tightest finishes in a lengthy time.”

Steve Clarke identifies player who had ‘best game for Scotland’ as manager gives ‘no panic’ message

Scotland manager Steve Clarke embraces Billy Gilmour after the midfielder’s own fine performance in the 4-0 friendly defeat against the Nertherlands in Amsterdam

Billy Gilmour’s overall performance fit to grace No.14 shirt in stadium named after a Dutch icon

Steve Clarke has sought to accentuate the positives following a bruising cease to Friday night’s pleasant defeat to the Netherlands and with the prolonged search for a win moving on to Tuesday night’s clash with Northern Ireland.

The Scotland manager described victory as non-negotiable against Michael O’Neill’s team, who characterize the next hazard to arrest a winless run that now stands at six outings. “The next game I want to win, it is simple,” said Clarke. “I favor to win. I just choose to win. I favor to stop the run of no wins.”

He was sensible about the response to the 4-0 defeat in Amsterdam, which he knew would be targeted on the late crumple amid a couple of substitutions. “The terrible is 4-0,” he said. “You can’t conceal from 4-0. It is a spanking. It used to be sore. The lads are hurting, I am hurting. The staff are hurting. But we will recover.”

At the coronary heart of the healing bid will be Billy Gilmour, who posted another coming-of-age performance in the Netherlands, one Clarke hailed as the midfielder’s quality in a Scotland jersey. It was once excessive praise from the manager when one considers how well he acquitted himself towards England on his full aggressive debut all through the Euro 2020 finals.

It appeared fitting that Gilmour’s modern-day bravura performance must come in the Johan Cruyff Arena considering the fact that he was once sporting the No 14 shirt made well-known via the Dutch legend.

“Yes, that’s nice,” noted Clarke. “It simply indicates the ordinary football he is taking part in for Brighton in the English Premier League is pushing him on. He is getting higher and better. We have continually stated that about Billy. He is one for the future, however he’s additionally one for now. He is a properly player. He confirmed that.”

Gilmour is surely benefitting from ordinary enjoying time. Friday was once his 42nd appearance for membership and united states of america this season, which is already a profession pleasant whole for the 22-year-old.

Clarke revealed he would no longer have opted to take Gilmour off after 69 minutes had the healthy been a aggressive fixture. The manager defined that he wanted to take another seem to be at Lewis Ferguson, who is excelling in Serie A with Bologna. Scotland seemed to fall aside in each Gilmour and left centre-half Kieran Tierney’s absence, who was changed through John Souttar a minute earlier.

“That was once harsh,” he mentioned with reference to Gilmour. “It was Billy’s pleasant game for Scotland, in my opinion. It was his fine game. Outstanding. I took him off because I desired to freshen it up, I desired to give Lewis a bit of time on the pitch. Before those substitutions had a chance to mattress themselves into the sport it is 2-0. And then from 2-0 it all at once became a lengthy night.”

He admits the ragged conclusion to Friday night’s game would possibly alter his questioning earlier than Tuesday’s game against a raw but brilliant Northern Ireland side, who picked up a creditable 1-1 draw in Romania whilst Scotland were falling to a heavy defeat in Amsterdam.

“I need to go away and think about that one,” he said. “I had an thinking in my head. I need to go away and sleep on it. Whatever crew I select need to win a game, that’s how I feel. We hold pronouncing we have precise power in depth in the squad, so whichever team, whether or not I decide to make 5 or six modifications or one or two changes, we still appear to win the game.”

He admitted attempting to play the Dutch at their own recreation as he ponders how to strategy June’s Euro 2024 opener towards Germany. “Sometimes when we play in opposition to the higher teams, now and again we play with a little bit of a decrease block and sit down in and let them play in the front of us and then we strive to counter attack from there,” he explained. “I just felt that searching at what we have and what we have to do to be better towards these groups is to strive and force them a little bit, so you win the ball higher up the pitch and it offers you a chance to score. And we created chances.”

His message to the Tartan Army was no longer to panic – or at least no longer to fret about loss of belief inside the personnel and enjoying group. He stated followers are permitted to panic if they wish. “It does no longer rely to me (the reaction returned home),” he said. “I won’t panic. We don’t panic. We just strive to get better and optimistically supply every person a better night on Tuesday.”

There is no requirement to offer any distinct encouragement to Lawrence Shankland, the 28-goal Hearts striker whose everyday sureness in the penalty place deserted him at a indispensable second on Friday when failing to convert a chance that would have made it 1-1.

Asked if he would put an arm round him this weekend in training, Clarke replied: “Why? Strikers leave out more chances than they rating goals. He will recover from it. I concept he did well.”