\u201cI think the players deserve a huge amount of credit. If there is a time these last couple of weeks to take your foot off the gas because of the number of points ahead we are then it could have been. But they haven\u2019t shown any sign of that. The focus is very much on winning and we are never complacent.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy only worry at this moment in time is the protection for my players. I\u2019ve seen two tackles in the last two games that weren\u2019t good tackles at all. We are a team that can play, with all due respect, any type of game. We\u2019ve had physical games and we\u2019ve came through them, we\u2019ve had footballing games and we\u2019ve came through them.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy players never complain, they get up and get on with the game. That\u2019s how I ask them to be. We respect referees. I would like them to have protection for our players.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe tackle on Kieran Tierney, which I didn\u2019t get the chance to see straight after the game last week, was a horrendous challenge. This is a kid who is coming through, 19 years of age and one of the great prospects of Scottish football.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI have a boy who is a brilliant coach on my staff, John Kennedy, who was also a brilliant prospect and in one challenge lost his career. I don\u2019t want that to happen to any of my players, or any player for that fact, whether he\u2019s from Celtic, Rangers, Hearts or Hibs. We need to<\/em> ensure the players are protected, and it\u2019s the responsibility of the referees to protect the game and players.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cAs I said, the challenge on Kieran Tierney was a horrendous challenge and the one in the game before against Inverness on Scott Sinclair was an awful challenge. If we are trying to have these best players in Scotland then they need a little bit of protection.<\/em><\/p>\n An undercover investigation by an Etims agent managed to get hold of an application form for the SFA’s refereeing course, and we discovered something that might shed light on the perceived bias against Celtic players…<\/p>\n There are two forms to fill in, in fact, and this is one of them..<\/p>\n Now, on this form, there is a box to fill in headed “Date Of Birth “, where the applicant enters the date he was born.<\/p>\n On the second form, which for legal reasons we cannot reproduce here, ( well, that and one other reason, in that we haven’t seen it ) this is abbreviated to<\/p>\n Those of the right mentality , the kind the SFA are looking for, simply write “Yes, I am \u00a0 ” in the box, and they are fast tracked to the highest level.<\/p>\n But Brendan cannot come out and say this directly, so he is merely asking for protection for his players.<\/p>\n We’ll have to see how it pans out, but if Emilio Izaguirre starts tomorrow, then get some money on him being booked, sent off and charged with affray.<\/p>\n Rodgers continued..<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a team of men. We have young guys in the team but we are playing a man\u2019s game. We have no problem with the aggression, no problem with that. Like I said, we coped with that. We\u2019ve gone away to Aberdeen \u2013 a really tough physical game – and came through that. But it was a really good game, with strong and fair challenges.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe concern for me is the ones that are late, like last week. If Kieran\u2019s foot was planted you could be talking about another story for one of Scotland\u2019s great talents.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the duty of the referee, to protect them and protect the game. You want competitive and aggressive games but they need to be within the law as well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As to whether his concerns are something that he will raise with the Head of Referees, the Celtic manager said: \u201cIt would be. I\u2019ve seen enough challenges now for me to talk about it, for sure. My duty as a manager is to protect my players. I\u2019ll have a look at it and see how it evolves of the next number of weeks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \n Thats from yesterdays press conference.<\/p>\n This is from the post match speech,<\/p>\n ” We were concerned about referees , and the tackle on our player was the final straw for some of our lads. When the officials ignored it, one or two of ours took the law into their own hands, I just hope the referee is okay, and they can get his whistle back out safely. ”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I’m going to risk the pain and discomfort of the long trip tomorrow to see how this one pans out.<\/p>\n I say pain and discomfort not in a physical sense, but in a mental sense. It looks like being a long day tomorrow, a suspicion conformed by a comment in yesterdays replies..<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
D.O.B<\/h2>\n
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