Unimpressed Des Roache is critical of the choice made by the SFA in selecting Don Robertson to officiate Celtic’s crucial game against Livingston. Roache, a former official turned podcast host, believes that the decision to appoint Robertson comes at a time when emotions are high following Brendan Rodgers’ ban for criticizing the refereeing team in a previous match. Despite acknowledging Robertson’s skills as a referee, Roache feels that the selection for this significant game could have been handled better.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Roache expressed his disappointment with the decision, stating, “I believe there were better options available for this weekend’s matches. The SFA could have shown more wisdom in their selection process. While Don is a great referee, I think there were other games where he could have been assigned instead of this high-profile fixture.”
Roache also feels that Rodgers deserved the ban he received for his comments towards referee John Beaton, emphasizing the need to move away from unfairly singling out match officials. He criticized the practice of managers targeting referees for blame, suggesting that it is unjust to personally attack them for mistakes made during a game.

Regarding the sanctions imposed on Rodgers, Roache expressed his acceptance of the decision, acknowledging the importance of upholding the rules set by governing bodies. He highlighted the need for fairness and independence in the decision-making process and stressed the importance of respecting the verdict of the independent panel responsible for such matters. Roache emphasized the willingness of referees he has spoken to in accepting and abiding by these sanctions.