Exclusive: Hackett backs Brendan Rodgers as Celtic boss 'raging' at Hibs incident

Published 3 weeks ago• 2 minute read

manager’s frustrations at poor officiating.

Maeda’s goal for Celtic was ruled out after the ball went out of play, prior to Alistair Johnston’s cross, according to VAR.

Hackett had revealed that the process for that decision was flawed, and due to the limitations as a result of the camera angles, the decision had been a guess.

Celtic manager Rodgers may be set to leave the club, and refereeing decisions have drawn the ire of the former Liverpool manager this season.

When interviewed after the game, the Northern Irishman said:

“We don’t have the cameras to say that it’s factually out. If you don’t, you’re having a guess.”

With Celtic behind 2-1 and looking for a way back into the game, Johnston whipped in a cross, finding Maeda, and levelling the game for the Hoops in the 85th minute.

That was, until VAR intervened, and disallowed the Japanese striker’s equaliser, adjudging Johnston’s cross to have been out-of-bounds as the Canadian fired it into the box.

When asked by for his expert verdict, Hackett said:

“It was a guess and I support Brendan Rodgers in what he is stating.

“The process of accurate decision making by referees is to SEE, RECOGNISE, THINK and ACT.”

Following the surprise loss, former Hoops boss Neil Lennon weighed in on the issue, by saying:

"If I was Brendan [Rodgers], I'd be raging. When I saw it again on the action replay, for me, it was inconclusive whether the whole of the ball had gone over the line.

“For me, the linesman is right there and he's got the best view of it. The referee's given it, so VAR have interfered, and I'm still not convinced that the whole of the ball has gone over the line.

“I can imagine the frustration."