Celtic are set to bring out the big guns for the Brendan Rodgers SFA battle after drafting in the brief dubbed the Lionel Messi of sports law.
The Hoops boss will be up at Hampden on Thurday to face the beaks after blasting officials after his side’s Premiership defeat last month. Rodgers is facing a two match ban that would force him to sit in the stands in the Old Firm showdown at Ibrox next Sunday But Record Sport understands the Irishman will be represented by legal eagle Nick De Marco, who has been described by football finance expert Kieran Maguire as the ‘football law version of Lionel Messi’.
De Marco has taken on the English Premier League and Football League beaks for more than 40 clubs – including Leicester City’s ongoing Financial Fair Play dispute. The King’s Counsel turned sports barrister led the Nottingham Forest fight for a reduced point deduction in recent weeks having previously been involved in Newcastle United’s Saudi-backed takeover.Celtic are determined to fight to keep Rodgers in the dugout after the boss was carpeted for calling out the officials at Tynecastle. The Hoops gaffer raged after Yang Hyun-jun was shown a straight red for a high boot and then Hearts were awarded a controversial penalty opener. Rodgers took aim at referee Don Robertson and VAR official John Beaton – questioning the pair’s competence.
Rodgers said: “I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt. “But I think when I see that level of incompetence, which is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game. In such a tight title race that can make the difference. I also think that VAR is not the problem here. “That’s clear. It’s competence.
“The first one is the sending off when there is no force. Show a still image of that and of course and you will see a foot up with the head near it, but it’s not the reality of the move. Don got it actually right on the field. It was a high boot, so it’s a yellow card – no malice or force.
“For John Beaton to actually look at that in VAR, supposedly under no pressure, and say that was sending off? I find that incredible. The second one is worse. If you have a penalty go against you for that then there will be penalties every single weekend and midweek.”
Rodgers’ hearing is expected to kick off early afternoon on Thursday and a decision will be reached on the day. Record Sport understands Celtic have also been surprised whistler Robertson will be back in charge of Celtic’s Premiership clash against Livingston this weekend – just days after the disciplinary action.
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