Rodgers Backs Idah After Social Media Video, Condemns "Gotcha Culture" Around Footballers

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has spoken out in defense of striker Adam Idah following the circulation of a video online showing the player appearing unwell in a taxi. The footage, which was reportedly taken during a night out on Wednesday, has drawn attention on social media, but Rodgers insists the incident is being blown out of proportion.

Speaking ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone on Sunday, Rodgers revealed that Idah, 24, reached out to him on the team’s day off to explain the situation directly. The Republic of Ireland international’s honesty, along with his consistent professionalism, left the Celtic boss with no concerns about the player’s conduct.

“There’s a sadness to it, really,” Rodgers said. “It was his night off. He’s a young man, letting his hair down in his own time. Yet someone felt the need to film him and post it online. That’s disappointing.”

Rodgers emphasized Idah’s commitment off the pitch, describing him as a “great young professional” who takes extra steps to stay at the top of his game, including working with a personal nutritionist and doing additional training.

“He does everything right to be the best player he can be. I’ve no doubt about his mentality or focus,” Rodgers added. “What’s frustrating is how easily something innocent can be twisted into a negative story.”

The Celtic boss used the opportunity to criticize the current culture surrounding professional athletes, where moments of private life are often recorded and shared without consent. He warned that such behavior is making players more cautious and less approachable.

“You wonder why some players no longer stop for autographs or photos,” Rodgers said. “Because they don’t know when someone’s going to try and catch them out. It only takes one person to ruin that trust.”

Rodgers described the broader environment as one where footballers—particularly younger ones—must always be on guard. He lamented the loss of normalcy for players who, in trying to enjoy brief moments of downtime, find themselves under constant scrutiny.

“People create their own narratives from a 10-second clip without context,” he said. “Adam was honest with me, came to me first. He trained well and he’ll be ready for the weekend.”

Rodgers’ firm stance was clear: Idah’s conduct off the pitch does not warrant criticism, and the real issue lies in a culture more focused on catching footballers out than understanding them as people.

_{Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / NewUnion_org, Instagram / @celticfc}