GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 03: Referee Duncan Nicolson awards Dundee a free kick as Dundee's Jon McCracken is fouled by Celtic's Daizen Maeda during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Cetlic Park, on December 03, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
After being groomed through the ranks by Willie Collum, Duncan Nicolson was given his first Celtic match last night.
He was horrific. Exactly what you would expect with Collum owing his entire career to the ultimate Drama Queen- Hugh Dallas.
It takes a special type to rise through the refereeing ranks at the SFA.
SCOTLAND’S ELITE
Among the current crop are John Beaton, Don Robertson, Steven McLean, Nick Walsh, David Dickenson and Kevin Clancy. They know what is expected.
On VAR there is Andrew Dallas, son of Hugh and ‘Kilmarnock fan’ Greg Aitken.
Nicolson knows that Celtic opponents are entitled to free-kicks on demand.
With just 29% possession Dundee were awarded 13 free kicks. Celtic had the ball 71% of the time but were fouled just four times,
Nicholson also excelled at screening. The knack of positioning himself 25 yards from goal when Celtic are trying to break down a defence. An additional obstacle to overcome.
In the 70th minute Nicolson took things too far. Marking him down as one to watch, someone prepared to apply the Laws of the Game in a very personalised way. Subjective is the favoured excuse these days. When an official does what ever he likes regardless of the Laws.
A complete nonsense of a decision. Referee caves because it’s a goalkeeper. pic.twitter.com/uE1dIybIxs
— Celtic Fans TV (@CelticFansTV) December 4, 2025
PREDICTABLE
Outside of the penalty area Jon McCracken was outside of his comfort zone. Especially with Daizen Maeda around.
McCracken was challenged fairly from the side, fell to the ground and desperately reached for the ball.
Nicolson had a decision to make. Red card McCracken or an easy free kick against Celtic.
Since he had been giving penalties against Celtic all night he went with the flow.
Later on Nicolson came up with another bizarre decision, booking Ben Nygren. After the assistant referee flagged for offside in Celtic’s half of the pitch.
Only Collum can explain why Nicolson has made it to the SPFL Premiership. His future appointments will be watched very closely.
Another cheating,corrupt,masonic bastard from the Lanarkshire crew.Only in Scotland,shameful.
The biggest problem is our timid ,shite feart board to speak up,the SFA must have us by the baws because of liewell and the 5 way agreement.Look what happened when sevco board started shouting again,all decisions have went sevcos way,but our spineless useless lot are frightened to say anything, disgusting.
Celtic players are suffering potentially very serious injuries on a game to game basis!
The laws of the game are not going to help us because they are not being applied evenly. The boundaries between safe and reckless play are obscured. The law that is applied always punish Celtic players and it is inconsistent.
Call it cheating, anarchy or whatever you like but that is the way it is!
When are they going to listen in the boardroom to the fans ? Until the day one of ‘ the greys ‘ in the boardroom stands up and yells ” no more awful refereeing and decision making ” then the corruption and ineptitude and incompetency of Scottish officials shall remain and will be more of the same? Jim Goodwin bottled out of lambasting the referee of last night’s home game where 2 important decisions for theRangers and against his Dundee Utd were made . That’s feeble and inefficient towards his own club ….pathetic ! Somebody has to understand these decisions are a disgrace to the moral standards of the game here ….it’s bent and totally rotten to the core .
Absolute joke of a man. It’s a red card for the keeper every day of the week.
And was not on the sport scene highlights either.No discussion, no 3 week forensic analysis incoming from the media methinks…You might think there might be some sort of agenda at work?
I’m coming around to thinking that guy Kev Jungle is actually correct (regarding football, certainly not politics)…
Why DO folk pay to see this farce !