FURIOUS Brendan Rodgers has slammed disgusting Maribor defender Erik Janza for spitting on Leigh Griffiths in Celtic’s final Champions League warm-up match.
The angry boss spoke out after the left-back appeared to spit on the Hoops striker late in the first-half of last night’s friendly which ended in a goalless draw.
Janza’s sickening actions prompted instant fury on the pitch — and on the Celtic bench. Rodgers – who confronted the player and referee during the game – fumed: “‘The full-back spat at Leigh Griffiths.
“Disgrace it was. A disgraceful act. Leigh challenged for ball, used his body — and the full-back turned and spat at him. He shouldn’t have been on the field.
“The referee didn’t see it. I spoke to him at half-time, then again before the start of the second half. He didn’t see it. The linesmen didn’t see it.
“These are competitive games, but friendly by nature. That shouldn’t happen. Not in any game, least of all a friendly. I haven’t seen the Maribor manager to talk to him about it.”
Stefan Johansen faces a scan this morning on an ankle injured in the warm-up — and then aggravated it which brought about his early substitution, causing some doubt over his fitness for Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier against Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar.
However, Rodgers said: “Stefan is fine. We’re sending him for a scan. It’s a precaution. He felt his ankle in warm-up. There was nothing in training yesterday. We’ll see how he is in the morning.”
