Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou addresses the standard of Scottish refereeing and VAR

By John McGinley

October 29, 2021

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was today asked about the standard of Scottish refereeing and his perception of it since arriving in Scottish football.

It’s been a controversial week in the Premiership with Rangers given a free-kick and penalty that proved decisive in their match with Aberdeen. Dons boss Stephen Glass wasn’t happy with referee John Beaton after the fixture.

Postecoglou was asked to give his impressions of Scottish refereeing in his press conference today, responding [Sky Sports]: “Look in terms of the standard of refereeing I just look at our own games. I don’t really look at other games or what’s happening there.

“From our perspective, we’re just really keen to produce a game of football that supporters enjoy. When the game is more free-flowing and there are less interruptions that becomes more of a possibility. That’s where my focus is in terms of officiating.

“I kind of hope that people see what we’re trying to do. We don’t really want to get caught up in things that aren’t really that important in the context of the team we want to try and be.

“VAR is inevitable, it will happen everywhere. When it comes in you embrace it, you understand there will still be some issues because that’s been consistent worldwide. Ultimately if it gets the big decisions right I think it’s a positive.”

Ange’s comments may well be a subtle nod to the recent Aberdeen vs Celtic fixture at Pittodrie, when Bobby Madden blew for 37 fouls across the 90 minutes. [BBC]

That’s an incredible number. Given 27 of them went against Celtic, supporters were rightly panning the officiating.

Madden is again the man in the middle for Celtic vs Livingston tomorrow so Postecoglou is clearly hoping he uses his whistle less often than the Dons clash.

The manager clearly doesn’t want to get caught up in a media storm regarding referees and his comments were carefully chosen, but he apparently wants the football in Scotland to be a little more free-flowing and a little less focused on breaking up play.

What will we see from the ref tomorrow?

In other news, Ange confirms injury blow; Tom Rogic out of Celtic action for weeks.