Brendan Rodgers insists Premier Sports deal snub by Celtic is ‘reward’ for fans despite Aberdeen TV blackout.
The Scottish champions won 3-2 in a friendly against Sligo Rovers.
Brendan Rodgers defended Celtic’s TV ban, stating that the club prioritizes fans over revenue.
The Hoops manager completely supports the decision to reject further funding from Premier Sports, which will prevent the top-of-the-table meeting with Aberdeen from being broadcast live after the international break. Celtic, who defeated Sligo Rovers in a friendly match in Ireland yesterday night due to a Luis Palma hat trick, will stick to their guns and keep the 3pm Saturday kick-off rather than collect a potential £75,000 per game bonus.
Rodgers stated, “I believe the club has demonstrated genuine concern for their supporters.” They might have easily accepted the money. But they’ve maintained it there for fans who come to watch the games. It’s a shame; it might have been a terrific television game, but it wasn’t to be. It gives us a decent run into next week and some rest time before we play again on Wednesday (against Atalanta in the Champions League).
“We will be prepared to leave. When it comes to this type of affair, there is no actual winner. However, the team has prioritized the supporters, which is vital.
Brendan Rodgers
“Celtic have a number of fixtures relocated. That is why I was so delighted for the Ross County fans. Thousands of people traveled from all over to Dortmund, and the outcome was clearly not in our favor.
“They return and have to get up for a noon kickoff at Ross County, which is three or four hours away.” People arrive from all around the country, including Ireland, on late flights and early mornings.
“So having their support is quite essential to us, and it was good to repay them with a win. We understand that Celtic fans will travel anywhere at any time, but it is important to show them respect when we can, such as around kick-off times. So I think the club made an excellent decision.”
Rodgers headed a fringe team to Ireland to face Sligo Rovers, and they were given a little scare.Luis Palma scored twice in stoppage time to secure the game, adding to his early opening. The League of Ireland team led till late following Scott Bain’s mistakes.
The Hoops boss was impressed with the workout, which featured Palma and some of Parkhead’s young players. Rodgers stated: “The goal for us was to bring Celtic to Ireland, which is always essential. It was about getting some minutes into the legs of some veteran guys who hadn’t played much, so it was a terrific workout.
“There was also an opportunity for the young players to come in and see how they performed in front of a crowd against a strong squad. Obviously, there is an opportunity to influence young people here. I really loved the game, and you could see Sligo played some excellent football.”
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