EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 30: Referee Nick Walsh speaks to Callum McGregor as he heads to the VAR monitor to award a penalty to Hibernian for a handball by Liam Scales during a William Hill Premiership match between Hibernian and Celtic at Easter Road, on November 30, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The evidence that Celtic are being refereed to different standards is becoming overwhelming.
Whatever the opponents, whoever is the referee almost certainly the fixture will see Celtic dominate possession. And the foul count.
If it happened once a season it would be a but of a freak. In the SPFL it is happening every week to different extents.
Don Robertson is sort of the master. Which probably explains why he was put in charge of four of Celtic’s first 11 SPFL matches. Robertson is guilty of going overboard, such as the September visit of Hibs. Celtic had 77% possession, Robertson conjured up a 16 v 1 foul count. It was almost a clean sweep for the visitors but in the 88th minute Robertson awarded a free kick against Hibs, some might think that was to cover his tracks.
HIBS AWAY
The two teams met again at Easter Road on Sunday.
Celtic fans had plenty to be concerned about.
Jamie McGrath was only booked for a head high kick at Arne Engel’s head at the second Celtic goal.
A penalty was awarded against Liam Scales without any clear evidence. Two camera angles were offered up, both inconclusive. There were no face on images from the East Stand, where the corner came in from. At Ibrox last week John Beaton had more evidence of handbal but opted for an honest mistake.
Midway through the second half Celtic attacked down the left. Yang Hyun-jun headed the ball in the Hibs box then was wiped out by a head butt from Rocky Bushiri. Walsh waved play on then stopped the game for an unknown infringement, in favour of Hibs.
The foul count was telling on Sunday. Especially compared to Steven McLean’s performance at Ibrox. The possession stats were almost similar, the fouls weren’t. Walsh delivered more in line with Robertson.
Celtic had 60% possession during the match. Walsh awarded Hibs twice the amount of free kicks. Most of the free kicks Celtic got were awarded while still in possession. Effectively pulling play back. Applying a disadvantage.
Meanwhile at Ibrox the possession stats for the visit of Falkirk were almost identical. Steven McLean was in charge with free kicks awarded almost exactly in proportion. With 60% possession the home-side were given 17 free kicks, the visitors 11.
Absolutely as you would expect.
STATEMENT TEMPLATES
McLean refereed the game as you would expect. The team that had the bulk of possession were awarded a similar level of free kicks.
Repeatedly in Celtic matches that stat is reversed.
Since July 2012 Celtic have barely made a complaint about refereeing issues.
Under Peter Lawwell when social media anger reached a certain level the CEO would reach for his statement templates.
Generally the ‘surprised and disappointed’ version would be used. Very rarely would they be ‘seeking an explanation’ from the SFA on decisions taken, that required a higher level of reaction.
There would never be a follow up statement on the outcomes. After tea and biscuits at Hampden and a reminder of the 2012 paperwork the matter would be quietly dropped by Celtic.
Michael Nicholson doesn’t require a template. Questioned about refereeing issues at the 2023 AGM he giggled ‘penalty to Rangers’ as his reply.
Is it due to the endorsement and signing of the 5WA, is it the Celtic Board is culturally and psychologically sat at the back of the bus?
Or is it a lot more simple than that? The Celtic board simply don’t give a damn and can’t be bothered?
Bonuses and cash are still coming and, in their head, they’re super superior and they are still going to win the league?
I think it’s more a case of the board are all huns.
Is there any evidence any of these parasites went to games when they were young or before they joined the board?
Editor: Huge Selik man Lawwell hasn’t been at an away match all season, says it all.
He’s a rat Joe , and I would not be surprised if he’s a member of a lodge too .
Eddie, if the 5-Way was ever signed at all, and I suspect it wasn’t, it would only be those ‘party’ to it and not Celtic. The 5-Way was between the SFA, the SPL, the SFL, Rangers administrators Duff and Phelps and Charles Green representing Sevco Scotland Limited.
The possibility that Celtic was not involved however is totally unbelievable in its true sense.
The email it was attached to is, IMHO, critical and all of it was sent to Peter Lawwell (though strangely not his secretary) and Eric Riley. If Celtic are in any way ‘hamstrung’ by it it’s because, in the cold light of day, no-one of reasonable intelligence would believe Celtic PLC was not involved and if seen openly our supporters would ‘do the deed’ of evicting the current incumbents from the boardroom. Once the truth of that agreement was publicly available there would have to follow the removal and probable prosecution of all those involved both hands on and hands off!
Someone should ask the question at the AGM next year. If they behave between now and then.
Maybe we should just hit the deck when any contact is made as this seems to work for the opposition.
Ask Wullie Collum.
Hopefully someone has already sent copies of these stats to UEFA, no wonder these refs are constantly overlooked for European games, surely UEFA are aware of the irregularities as to why they overlook the refs.
Isn’t that bigot dallas in charge of the refs in Europe?
He might also deal in corruption. He has the handshake after all
No , dallas was sacked from that role. Of course out main stream red tops said the square root of fuck all.
Cheats with whistles flags and monitors then…
Cheats with whistles flags and monitors now…
Cheats with whistles flags and monitors forever and ever and ever and ever !
The reason people are wondering WHY uefa and fifa will not get involved is simple..Both organisations ask the local FA …are you happy if they are…case closed..but if you break uefa or fifa rules that’s a different matter…as we all know with the green brigade….on the cheating Scottish referees…I’ve said this before..if the punishment for cheating is NO PUNISHMENT…Why stop cheating