Brendan Rodgers has claimed that he was under the impression that all Scottish Premiership fixtures had to be concluded before the split as the saga around Dundee’s pitch goes on.
The Celtic manager expressed his disappointment in the cancellation of the Dundee vs Rangers match on Wednesday evening, calling it unfavourable for the league's image. The Dens Park surface has failed to host five games already this season, and has come under extreme scrutiny after title-chasing Rangers game in Dundee failed to get the go ahead once again.
Rodgers has called on SPFL clubs to improve the quality of their surfaces and admitted it's far from ideal that Celtic will have played two games more than their Glasgow rivals by the time Rangers kick-off against Ross County on Sunday.
Ahead of Celtic's meeting with St Mirren tomorrow, the Hoops boss recalled: "All I know is that both times I have been up here I have been led to believe that the fixtures had to be complete before the split. That is the only thing that has ever been made clear.
"I know speaking to the guys here there has been moments where they have wanted to move the games and they haven't been able to be changed. So, it's unfortunate but it will be something for the league that they have to control."
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The Northern Irishman was then asked if he had any concerns around the sporting integrity of the Scottish game after Hibernian and Rangers both hit out at the fiasco.
In previous years, the SPFL typically announced the post-split fixtures on the Monday or Tuesday following the completion of the weekend fixture card. However, they will be made to wait this time out until Dundee face Rangers, with the Tayside outfit still in the mix to reach the top-six.
Rodgers continued: "Well, it's not a great look. I think both games they have been televised - and especially in April. I know we have had a wee bit of rain but you expect to get the game on.
"So there has been a big issue with the pitch there, nothing that Tony (Docherty) and his football staff can control. I know i was up there early on in the season and it looked very slippy and not what it used to be - because I know in my first time here i used to think that was one of the best pitches. But yeah, it's not a good look.
"It's something that I have always spoken about up here - it's about the standard and the standard of football pitches. They have to be at the highest possible standards to entertain the supporters because that is our job."
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