Rodgers Stands Firm: Refuses to Engage with Media Over Celtic Fan Criticism

Brendan Rodgers stood firm after Celtic’s win over Kilmarnock yesterday and refused to engage with the media surrounding criticism of the club’s fans.

The Bhoys walked away from Ayrshire deserved 2-0 victors courtesy of goals from Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn, along with a few smart saves from goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

A minute’s silence was due to take place for Remembrance Sunday pre-match. Referee Nick Walsh cut it short, though, amid chants from the Celtic end.

Supporters were singing in protest of the minute’s silence, yet, despite their right to free speech, they have faced apparent and somewhat overt criticism for doing so.

In his post-match press conference, Killie gaffer Derek McInnes was visibly incensed, branding the Celtic faNBAse as ‘awful’ for their actions.

The media have latched onto such a narrative, and, as always seems to be the case when these issues veer their head, Football fans’ societal right to free speech and protest peacefully is ignored, and instead, they are criminalised.

After yesterday’s Game, Rodgers was naturally asked about the interruption of the minute’s silence. The Celtic boss stood firm: “It’s always a challenge,” he said (The Celtic Way).

“You guys [in the media] know the script up here at this time of the year.

“If it’s a minute silence, it’s a minute silence. I think we all want to respect that, and we all understand that some don’t. So, it can be a divisive one. I understand.

“But my chat is really for the Football, and that’s something else that’s outside of that, sadly.”

Without taking a definitive stance on the topic, Rodgers said his piece well and refused to get bogged down in the unjust criticism of the Celtic fans.

He clearly understands that people are allowed free speech and to protest – a right that several other figures within Football and the media have shown they can’t comprehend over the past 24 hours.