Ex-Fifa official: Celtic told to demand SFA meeting after new twist in Alexandro Bernabei controversy
Celtic should demand a meeting with the Scottish FA to help Alexandro Bernabei adapt to life in the Scottish Premiership.
That is the view of ex-Fifa and Premier League referee Keith Hackett, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Bernabei escaped a ban.
The 21-year-old was sent off in his final game for Lanus before he completed a move to Celtic last month (30 June).
He had served two games of his suspension but he still had one game to go.
The Scottish Daily Express reported last week (6 July) that the ban will not follow him to Scotland as all the documentation did not mention any sanction.
The Argentinian is now free to make his debut in the flag-unfurling game against Aberdeen on at the end of the month (31 July).
Asked whether he was surprised by the decision, Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Yes, I am, he’s got away with it.
“I think Celtic need to look at the player’s record and it would help them if they had a meeting with the player and the Scottish FA and a referee.
“You might ask, ‘Why him?’ but let’s have referees in Scotland go into all clubs in pre-season to talk about challenges and all that is coming.
“It might be premature to talk about VAR with it coming in after the World Cup so they might want to do another one later on in the season.
“What they’ve got to understand is VAR brings in a responsibility for them to behave because there is this third eye watching them, big time.”
In other news, Celtic are lining up a bid for a star with 70 Premier League appearances.