Celtic loss 'refereed outside the field', says manager Brendan Rodgers after Hearts win 2-0

Manager Brendan Rodgers lamented "really, really poor officiating" as Celtic fell to a controversial defeat at Hearts to complete a weekend of shocks in the Scottish title race.

The 2-0 loss prevented champions Celtic reclaiming top spot from Rangers, who stay two points clear after being stunned by Motherwell on Saturday. The top two each have nine league games left.

Rodgers claimed "the game was refereed outside the field today" after video assistant referee (VAR) intervention led to Yang Hyun-jun's yellow being upgraded to a red card and Tomoki Iwata conceding a penalty for Hearts' opener.

John Beaton was the VAR in Edinburgh, with referee Don Robertson ultimately making the final decisions.

Yang was penalised for a high foot on Alex Cochrane and Iwata was judged to have used his arm, with Jorge Grant netting from the spot. Celtic themselves were awarded a penalty at 0-0, with Adam Idah's effort saved by Zander Clark.

Lawrence Shankland had a goal disallowed for offside, this time after a VAR check, but was not to be denied as he struck Hearts' second after the break..

"The first incident with the sending off - there's no force in that," Rodgers told BBC Scotland.

"If you make a still [image], of course it gives you a different opinion but the reality was not that. The referee made a right decision of a yellow card.

"That's a clear example of what people say VAR isn't. The game was refereed outside the field today. That means we get a sending off.

"The second one is even worse. Tomoki gets a nudge, I don't know where his arm is supposed to go. The ball drops on to his arm. If that's the case, we should have had a penalty at Motherwell last week.

"For John Beaton to say that is a penalty - wow. Really poor officiating in a big game for us."

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith agreed with the red card but felt both penalties were "soft".

And former Hearts player Allan Preston told BBC Sportsound: "VAR is not the problem, it's the people running it. Referees know the rules inside out, but they don't know the game."

• Everything you need to know about your Premiership club

• Download the BBC Sport app: Apple - Android - Amazon

Half-time substitute Kyogo Furuhashi and Idah threatened in the second half but Celtic ultimately left empty handed, suffering a first league defeat since losing 2-0 at home to Hearts in December.

With Rangers' unbeaten home record under Philippe Clement shattered by Motherwell, it marks the first time the Old Firm have both lost on the same weekend since February 2018.

Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner says the red card decision was harsh on Rodgers' side and "changed the game", adding: "I didn't think it was a penalty for Celtic either and they missed that opportunity. Idah did not strike the ball well enough.

"Is this the same Celtic we saw last season? No. Things have definitely changed in terms of intensity, maybe players not up to scratch. The bench was weak today.

"You couldn't see Celtic scoring in that second half. They had a few chances and, if it had been Lawrence Shankland, they might have gone in."

Hearts & Shankland 'happy' with contract situation

Shankland, now with 28 goals for club and country this season and out of contract next summer, has faced constant speculation over his future and is yet to sign a new deal offered by Hearts.

The striker chose an opportune moment to provide a further reminder of his talents, with Scotland manager Steve Clarke watching from the Tynecastle stands as a friendly double-header looms later this month in the build-up to Euro 2024.

Shankland unleashed six shots, three on target, and finished with aplomb to secure victory. The 28-year-old has proved the scourge of Celtic, netting three in three league meetings this season and six in the past nine.

He has now reached 20 Premiership goals for the second successive season and told BBC Scotland: "Things are going well, the goals are going in and I feel like I'm doing my job for the team.

"Hopefully that gives me the best opportunity to be involved with the national team."

On his future, he added: "We'll see, if we open talks further down the line. At the moment, the club and I are happy with the situation."

Preston is "doubtful" Hearts can hang on to their prize asset beyond the summer. "If I was Rodgers or [Clement in January, I'd have paid what Hearts wanted because he scores goals," he said.

"He's the best striker in Scotland and he could have won one of them the league."