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 Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic fans won’t forget the night that they were subjected to the refereeing of Duncan Nicolson for the first time.
Like Ross Hardie and Grant Irvine, Nicolson has been fast tracked through the refereeing ranks despite having no obvious ability.
A midweek home match at Celtic Park against opponents near the bottom of the table was deemed the ideal opportunity to get Nicolson closer to the top of the tree.
An addition to the pool that covers Don Robertson, Steven McLean, Nick Walsh, John Beaton, David Dickinson and others.
NICOLSON FAST TRACKING
Nicolson knows the drill, he knows what to deliver. On Thursday Neil Lennon was given a six match touchline ban for expressing his thoughts on the upcoming referee.
Against Dundee you could have been watching prime Beaton, Robertson or McLean. Incredible consistency.
Celtic had 71% possession but were fouled only four times.
Dundee had 29% possession but were awarded 13 fouls by the sympathetic Nicolson.
Delivering those sort of stats are an entry level requirement if you want to referee in the top flight.
BONUS BALL
As a bonus Nicolson awarded Jon McCracken a free kick when he fell to the ground and grabbed the ball from Daizen Maeda. Any other week and the Dundee keeper would have been sent off. A game changer.
In stoppage time Nicolson’s decision making got even worse.
That Nygren offside decision , then where the restart was taken from .
You could be forgiven for thinking that the officials were making things up as the game went on.
One of many strange calls last night. pic.twitter.com/i7iDbjFaJO— Highland__Paddy (@Highland__paddy) December 4, 2025
30 seconds
With the ball in the centre circle a Celtic player hooked it high into the Dundee half.
McCracken was the only player in the Dundee half, Ben Nygren held back, standing just inside the Celtic half before chasing the ball down.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING
Nicolson and his assistant were panic struck. As was McCracken as he realised he was facing an opponent.
What happened next was simply a case of make it up as you go along.
Nicolson blew to stop the game, McCracken raised his hands to confront Nygren. Nicolson then booked Nygren allowing Dundee to take the offside free kick more than 30 yards from where the flag was raised.
Awarding the free kick where Nygren was, in the Celtic half would have been pushing things too far.
Celtic survived four more minutes of this type of refereeing to join Hearts in top position.
Duncan Nicolson is one to watch. The SFA will likely give him one more Celtic home and one away match this season.
After that he can join the elite as Willie Collum pushes him towards more high profile matches.
Seems Lennon had already sussed this clown out.
Another nicholson needing leathered.
Nevermind – the lads on Sportscene will forensically dissect it and it’ll be all over the papers for weeks, or mibbe not.
I’ve cut a better man out of toilet roll.
Benji Nygren is clearly standing onside! That Ref’s head is full of old nuts and bolts (figuratively speaking)!
Lawwell has been at the Club for the best part of twenty odd years. But his continued presence is bringing shame on it. He should be considering his position and resigning because he is driving the football club up against a proverbial wall!
More questions need to be asked. The offside rule is only applicable when the player try to challenge for the ball. When de Dundee gk grabs the ball, Nygren is more then 10 meters from the ball. I wouldn’t call that challenging.
Blame the Celtic board no one else,the refs get away with this because they know they can and Celtic won’t say a thing about the blatant cheating.This has got to be about the 5 way agreement that liewell denied seeing so the SFA just threaten him and the board with disclosure,I wonder if our board are ousted and a new board installed,the SFA won’t have this hold over Celtic.When the Huns board threw the rattle out of the pram and kicked up fuck look how many dodgy decisions have went their way since their CEO spoke up.
Where are ya Paddy Stewart…
Celtic need a guy with your acumen !