Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has come to the defence of Hibernian boss Neil Lennon after he was struck by a coin during Wednesday's Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle. Rodgers condemned the attack, stating that no manager or player should be subjected to such treatment in their workplace.
Rodgers said: 'It shouldn't even be a question. You get some coaches who'll participate with the crowd when there's banter coming from the stands and it goes back and forth. Okay. But you should never be hit with a coin when you are out there at your place of work.' He added that the incident shocked Lennon, who has previously been sent bullets in the post and assaulted in the street.
The incident is part of a worrying trend of hooliganism in Scottish football, with a coin also thrown at an assistant referee during Livingston's game with Rangers in September. In the same match, Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal was punched by a Hibernian supporter before Lennon was hit.
Rodgers expressed concern that such behaviour could tarnish the reputation of the Scottish Premiership. 'The passion up here is so huge for football but there always has to be a lid kept on it. The bigger picture is we don't want that as a representation of the Scottish Premiership and society up here,' he said.
Despite the controversy, Rodgers praised his own team's recent form, including a 5-0 victory over Dundee, and highlighted the versatility of midfielder Callum McGregor. 'How many positions does he play? He's just got the inbuilt brain for football,' Rodgers remarked.
