Ange Postecoglou fired straight back at Robbie Neilson after the Hearts boss has claimed that his side had lost tonight’s match due to the performances of the match officials.
Neilson’s main complaint was about Celtic’s 33rd minute goal from Kyogo Furuhashi from a Tony Ralston cross. There was a possibility of offside but the pictures from Sky Sports were inconclusive. Scotland is one of the few leagues in Europe that has no VAR despite systems being in use at Celtic Park and Ibrox for Europa League matches.
Referee Bobby Madden had an infuriating match, looking unsure and uncertain which is hardly surprising following the storm over sending off Aberdeen’s Funso Ojo after he was struck by a Dundee United fan.
The referee wasn’t given much help by his assistants, early in the second half a ridiculous offside was given against Carl Starfelt from a corner kick.
Covering the post-match reaction BBC Scotland reported:
“That means the ref’s on three points, he’s still bottom of the league,” says a perplexed Ange Postecoglou when told about Robbie Neilson’s take on the game.
“If anyone thinks the ref decided that game they’re watching a different game to what I am,” he tells BBC Sportsound. “I think we should have won by more goals, that’s my analysis. He has his analysis, he can communicate it the way he wants, I’m communicating it the way I want.”
Earlier they had reported on Neilson’s comments:
We didn’t get beaten by Celtic, we got beat by poor decisions from the officials, that’s the galling thing. I’ve seen it, everyone would agree with it [the goal being offside]. The linesman had a brilliant view. I don’t want to say too much, last time I did, at Ibrox, I had the book thrown at me.
Madden also refereed Hearts v Celtic on the opening day of the season, tonight was his fourth Celtic match of the campaign.
Don’t remember him screaming for VAR when this goal got chopped off? That would have put us 2-1 up at Tynecastle pic.twitter.com/9of17hlFDs
— Christopher Gillespie (@CGillespie1G89) December 2, 2021
Hi arm is offside the rest of his body is on. So many changes In rules I haven’t got a clue. Even Var decisions are mad. It’s hard to keep up.
Green Brigade needs discussed Joe. Any Celtic player being hit by a bottle and you would have wrote 10 stories on it. They need to weed these clowns out or they will loss the wider Celtic support.
Yes the bottle incident was shocking , surely they have CCTV footage to show what brain-dead fuckwit threw a bottle at an opposing player ,this does our reputation no good whatsoever.
He’s off ski, Collared, banned and charged.
Manager is not doing his team any good but Neilston embraces arguments kicking ball away from opposition player at dug out its not childish certainly no professional it’s nasty looking fir a response from the player maybe booked or regarded that should be look at its nasty just like the way his team play wasting time from 1st minute even 1 down celtic should have settle at 1-0 and brought them onto us instead there fullback were up in hearts area when montegomery got blocked and hearts should have scored no need for him to be there winning by scoring 1 goal u get the 3 points our finishing has been poor
If your leading why your two full backs in the opposition half no need suicidal we will get more but need to have none back so opposition have to have more men forward
Forrest has to hold ball take a kick man up