Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic manager, is receiving accolades for stepping in to assist stewards who had forcibly restrained a young fan following Celtic’s 3-0 SPFL win at Livingston.

Rodgers rushed to the aid of a young boy who had run onto the pitch at the conclusion of the match and was subsequently apprehended and brought to the ground by stewards. The former Liverpool boss hurried over to the child, calmly assuming control of the situation.

In his second stint as the Celtic boss, Rodgers draped an arm around the youngster and guided him back to the stands, where he was met with resounding applause from Celtic fans stationed behind the goal. The young lad reciprocated with applause and open arms toward the Bhoys faithful before Rodgers ensured he safely crossed back over the advertising boards.

On social media, fans had mixed reactions, with one Twitter user stating, “Brendan having none of it,” while another commented, “The Gaffer done well there stewards raging lol.” Some fans even joked that the incident might have been orchestrated by Rodgers to win back fans’ favour after his departure in 2019.

One individual speculated, “BR has set that up, got to love the politics he’s playing to get the fans back on board, my gaffer,” while another playfully remarked, “The wee guy will be a paid actor. All hail Brendan, the director,” A third chimed in, “Once bitten twice shy…f*** it…I’m an easy ride. I’m all in again!”

However, opinions were divided, with some fans believing that Rodgers should not have intervened, fearing it might encourage more children to enter the pitch in the hope of being saved by their heroes.

A comment expressed, “Totally wrong to do this imo kids should be nowhere near the pitch and this will only encourage them to start trying it again.” Another added, “With the greatest of respect, the boy shouldn’t have been on the pitch at all, and whoever he’s with is an irresponsible clown.”

Reo Hatate’s first-half penalty kick set 10-man Celtic on the path to victory, as former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart was sent off after 28 minutes. Second-half goals from Matt O’Riley and Daizen Maeda secured the victory, but the post-match scenes took center stage in Rodgers’ reaction.

Addressing the incident in his post-match interview, Rodgers defended the child when questioned about his involvement with security and the young lad, stating, “It’s a young kid who wants to see his heroes; he shouldn’t face punishment or legal action for that.