Brendan Rodgers has found himself on the wrong side of UEFA’s strict scheduling regulations after a delayed kickoff during his side’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich…
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett has shed light on the significance of adhering to UEFA’s stringent match-timing protocols.
Despite guiding Celtic towards a potential domestic treble, Rodgers has faced mounting scrutiny over his future following a recent defeat to Rangers. Now, the 52-year-old must also contend with disciplinary action from European football’s governing body.
UEFA Sanctions Celtic and Rodgers for Kickoff Delay
Last month, Celtic’s Champions League journey came to an end against Bayern Munich. After a controversial 2-1 defeat at home in the first leg, where Celtic midfielder Arne Engels was denied a penalty, the Scottish champions managed a 1-1 draw in Germany but fell short with a 3-2 aggregate loss.
In the aftermath of the second leg, UEFA has imposed a suspended one-match touchline ban on Rodgers for a delay in kickoff. Additionally, Celtic has been fined £8,345 for the incident.
Hackett has now provided insight into why UEFA took action, emphasizing the global coordination required for European fixtures.
Keith Hackett Explains UEFA’s Decision
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett detailed the reasoning behind UEFA’s strict enforcement of scheduling rules.
“Like Premier League games, matches under the UEFA banner are broadcast around the world. UEFA prepares and issues a countdown clock leading up to kickoff,” he explained.
“This schedule covers everything from the time each team departs their hotel to when match officials leave theirs. It also dictates warm-up times, pre-match preparations, the timing of the team sheet exchange, and the teams’ entry into the tunnel.
“There is a signal from the touchline by the TV team to the referee to kick off. The entire process ensures coordination with broadcasters across different regions.”
Hackett also pointed to the importance of the halftime interval and the impact of managerial delays.
“The same focus applies to the restart after halftime, which could have been the issue if the manager extended his team talk and delayed the restart,” he added.
“Not every country broadcasting UEFA games has extensive panel discussions before a match or after halftime. In many places, there is simply a one-minute introduction film before cutting straight to the referee’s whistle to start the game.
“It is important that clubs and their managers adhere to the countdown clock.”
Celtic Look to Move On as Domestic Campaign Resumes
With the European campaign now behind them, Celtic are set to return to domestic action after the March international break. They will host Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday, March 29, as they continue their push for silverware under Rodgers’ leadership.
Brendan Rodgers addressed his UEFA fine yesterday
Brendan Rodgers gave his take on the circumstances that led to his surprising fine from UEFA at his media conference at Lennoxtown ahead of today’s meeting with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. The Celtic manager was asked for a word on his UEFA charge and if that came as a surprise?
Brendan Rodgers replied: “Yeah, well to be fair, I’d only read about it. I think it’s one of these ones. I wasn’t aware that we were doing anything different to what we normally do. But sometimes coming out at half-time, it’s a wee bit stricter than what you’d have normally at home. But yeah, we won’t be losing sleep over it.”
