Exclusive – Ex-FIFA referee reacts to medical emergency at Aberdeen v Celtic
Keith Hackett has responded to a medical emergency that happened in the crowd during Aberdeen’s Scottish Premiership clash with Celtic.
The former FIFA official and ex-PGMOL chief has exclusively informed Football Insider why the players were not taken off the pitch when the incident happened.
The medical emergency occurred on 34 minutes, causing a seven-minute delay, and players stayed on the pitch, kicking the ball around even though it was suggested on Sky Sports that the referee might have needed to bring the players back inside.
A much-changed Celtic side claimed a 5-1 win at Pittodrie with goals arriving from Maik Nawrocki, Yang Hyun-Jun, Luke McCowan, Johnny Kenny, and Adam Idah.
‘Protocol needs to be in place’ – Hackett
Sky Sports’ live coverage of Celtic’s win at Aberdeen revealed that the supporter who suffered a medical emergency was in a stable condition, but attended hospital for medical checks.
Meanwhile, Keith Hackett told Football Insider that a protocol must be in place after the players stayed on the pitch after the emergency: “In the winter months I would suggest dependent on the weather conditions I would have a league protocol where you take the players off then restart the game after the players have warmed up.
“In conditions like this evening then prior to restarting the game we need a protocol in place that a short warm up can take place under the supervision of the team physio.”
Celtic show dominance against Aberdeen ahead of Scottish Cup final
Rodgers’ men hammered Aberdeen 5-1 at Pittodrie, even though Rodgers made several changes to his lineup, with the likes of Alistair Johnston, Reo Hatate, and Adam Idah all coming off the substitutes’ bench.
| Opponent | Result |
| Rangers (A) | 1-1 D |
| Hibernian (H) | 3-1 W |
| Aberdeen (A) | 1-5 W |
In their next fixture, the Bhoys host St Mirren on Saturday, 17 May, in their final Scottish Premiership encounter of the season before they face Aberdeen once more in the Scottish Cup final on 24 May.
Celtic can take great confidence from their emphatic win at Pittodrie and will believe that they can beat Jimmy Thelin’s men once more at Hampden Park later this month and win the domestic treble.
Rodgers’ men displayed their strength in depth against Aberdeen, as Nawrocki, Kenny, and McCowan all notched their maiden goals for the Glasgow giants.
Celtic should have what it takes to defeat St Mirren on Saturday, and will likely finish a title-winning Scottish Premiership campaign on 94 points.