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)
Duncan Nicolson refereed his first Celtic match last night, following the template of the ‘best officials’ in the country.
Don Robertson is the master of it but Nick Walsh at Easter Road on Sunday wasn’t far behind.
No matter how much Celtic dominate possession they are almost on the wrong end of the free kick count.
Against Dundee Celtic had 70% possession. Incredibly they committed more than three times the amount of fouls!
HOW TO ADVANCE IN SCOTTISH REFEREEING
Nicolson played it safe throughout. Whenever a Dundee player felt contact they fell to the ground, Nicolson almost always obliged with two incidents standing out.
In the 70th minute Jon McCracken ventured outside his penalty area and was challenged by Daizen Maeda. Panic stricken the Dundee keeper fell to the deck and grabbed the ball.
Nicolson had two options. Send off McCracken or award Dundee a free kick. He made the decision most likely to lead to future Premiership appearances and pay days.
In the 87th minute Dundee sent a long diagonal ball towards the corner flag. One of their players attempted to control it, realised that it wasn’t happening so fell over with no contact from Auston Trusty.
Nicolson blew for a free kick. Dundee were able to send their big players into the penalty area, fortunately Celtic cleared the free kick.
BBC Scotland helpfully provide match stats. There is absolutely no justification for the stats produced by Nicolson other than the guaranteed silence of Michael Nicholson.
BREAKDOWN
Assuming that the ball was in play for 60 minutes, slightly generous, Dundee had possession for 17 minutes and 25 seconds . Nicolson awarded them a free kick every 80 seconds, 1 minute and 20 seconds.
Celtic had possession for 42 minutes and 35 seconds. Steven Pressley’s side committed a foul every 10 minutes and 39 seconds.
An incredible comparison yet one that Celtic are faced with in virtually every domestic match. CEO Nicholson has never commented on the irregularity.
WATCH OUT WILF
If Wilfried Nancy has done his homework he will be aware of this ‘trend’, others might describe it as levelling up.
On Sunday Robertson will referee the Celtic v Hearts match, Callum McGregor and the Celtic players know what to expect.
On recent form Celtic will have 60% or more possession but will have between 5 and 16 times more free kicks awarded against them. Derek McInnes’ side will hit the deck regularly knowing that 9 times out of 10 they will get a free kick and the chance for a30 second breather.
This issue is one of the many differences that Nancy will encounter as he switches to the strange world of Scottish football after four years managing in the MLS.
On VAR duty at Tannadice last night Robertson denied Dundee United a clear penalty when Manny Fernandez moved his right arm to control a throw-in into the penalty box. On Sportscene Neil McCann agreed with the decision not to award a penalty.
It would be useful to see a comparative of those stats with other SPFL games and then random from leagues abroad. Looking at Celtic’s in isolation does not sufficiently highlight what is glaringly obvious. Common sense dictates that a team trying to gain possession with create the most fouls.
Highlighting that Celtic’s stats are a worldwide phenomenon cannot be ignored. A great project for The Celtic by Numbers guy. Again though.. .. something the Club should be addressing.
But Lawwell so compromised by 2012, the team and fans and revenue is suffering because of it.
Editor: The link below shows the clear double standards. There were near identical possession stats on Sunday for Falkirk’s visit to Ibrox, Steven McLean awarded free kicks in proportion to possession. https://videocelts.com/2025/12/blogs/latest-news/the-evidence-celtic-refereed-to-different-standards/
Apologies for the ropey spelling and grammar. I was still in bed and no glasses. Wanted to say though, it’s great that you highlight this Joe. And in terms of probability that we are being refereed to a different standard, its glaringly easy to prove, but extremely difficult to those responsible to justify. It flies in the face of stats through the game globally. It’s actually a bigger scandal than the penalty anomaly.
I thought Nicolson also did well as a defensive midfielder playing in front of their back 4 , he slowed down a number of Celtic attacks, he’ll do well …..
Editor: I believe that it is described as screening in Scottish refereeing circles.
If I remember correctly, two of the four fouls that were awarded to Celtic last night were for offside.
To give Celtic just two fouls for foul play in the course of 90 minutes elevates Nicolson’s performance to Don Robertson levels of cheating.
We can expect to see much more of young Nicolson at Celtic Park as his masters will no doubt be delighted at such an outstanding debut.
It’s clear that the “pattern of assistance” has been resumed since the hun’s endless moaning after Trusty’s vicious assault on Butland in the cup semi final. Add in these ridiculous foul counts and it’s plain to see that the men in black are ruining our game as a spectacle.
We pay a lot of money to put up with having our natural game stifled time after time. On Sunday, fully half of our home games will have been refereed by Don Robertson. Add in the dreadful displays of this clown Nicolson and Clancy and you’re left with the feeling that we’ve been robbed of much of the entertainment that we’ve paid so dearly for. I’m sick to death of it.
Tell this to the board lovers! This is part of the reason we want them out. Cowards!!
“other than the guaranteed silence of Michael Nicholson.”??
Am I missing the joke here?
Think you are Jimmy !
As if one fuckin useless Nicholson (to Celtic) wasn’t enough either another emerges !
Mc canns favorite line ” for me its not a penalty” . Almost ranks with capt tavs ” disappointed”