In addition to propelling Celtic to the summit of the Scottish Premiership, the recent triumph against Motherwell reignited debates on the officiating standards at Fir Park.
Celtic’s victory was clouded by two contentious incidents that saw match officials heavily involved in what turned out to be a comfortable win for Brendan Rodgers’ squad. Striker Adam Idah fell victim to a dangerous tackle which eventually prompted VAR to step in and ensure Motherwell’s Liam Gordon received a deserved red card.
Following the match, Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell faced embarrassment with his remarks regarding the dismissal. Former SFA referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy even suggested that Kettlewell was fortunate not to see a second player sent off during Celtic’s win, pinpointing an incident involving Stephen O’Donnell’s challenge on Daizen Maeda. According to them, O’Donnell’s actions warranted a red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, a decision that VAR should have recommended for review.
As Celtic, Dundee, Rangers, and Aberdeen gear up for Wednesday’s clashes, the spotlight is firmly on Celtic fans’ hopes for the outcomes. While securing a victory against Dundee is the top priority, there’s no doubt that many will keep an eye on the Aberdeen vs. Rangers showdown.
The dilemma arises: Should Celtic supporters root for Aberdeen to widen the gap from Rangers, cheer for Rangers to close in on Aberdeen, or settle for a draw to maintain a lead over both teams?
Most likely, the bulk of Celtic fans would prefer a Rangers defeat to maximize the points distance, but irrespective of the results, Wednesday promises to be a significant night for the passionate fans.
