Celtic were 6-0 victors at Parkhead on Sunday afternoon. The Hoops were rampant as they bounced back from a disappointing European defeat midweek.
Despite scoring six, one of the main talking points post-match was the challenge from Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic on Kyogo. The Montenegrin internationalist completely wiped out the striker.
Because of it, the 28-year-old had to be brought off just over five minutes into the second 45. According to BBC reporter Kheredine Idessane, he was left incensed by the forceful challenge. Idessane said (BBC): “The Japanese star was extremely groggy and unsteady as he was helped past me up the tunnel. And he refused the Dons’ defender’s offer of a handshake. Furuhashi very unhappy at the challenge, understandably so.”
It is very much out of character for Kyogo to refuse to shake hands with an opponent. Usually, the centre-forward is first to help a player from the other team that he himself has hurt.
His refusal to make peace with Rubezic goes to show the brutal extent to which he was hurt by the 23-year-old. After the match, Brendan Rodgers confirmed Kyogo won’t go away on international duty with Japan as he aims to get back to fitness for Motherwell not next Saturday but the one after that.
