GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 10: Referee Nick Walsh during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park, on January 10, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Twice during Celtic’s 4-0 win over Dundee United Nick Walsh failed to apply the Laws of the Game.
It is exactly what Celtic fans come to expect from Scottish referees.
In keeping with the norm in Celtic matches Dundee United got free kicks on demand. Perfect for breaking up play when you are up against it.
Celtic had 78% possession during the match, United were barely on the ball.
Walsh awarded 12 free kicks against Celtic, he awarded just 5 against United who spend most of the day chasing shadows on a damage limitation exercise.
Those sort of statistics are par for the course in Celtic matches. It is a pattern that would never be seen in any other European league.
Nick Walsh making up his own rules because he didn’t do the 8 second count
— A M (@AndrewMgan) January 10, 2026
Nick Walsh again seeing fouls that are invisible to the naked eye.
— George Paterson (@gfpaterson) January 10, 2026
On top of that there were two tell tale incidents in the match which predictably went against Celtic. Walsh has plenty of previous.
After 41 minutes United keeper Dave Richards had possession of the ball. He was afraid to put it down in case he got challenged by Daizen Maeda, he held onto it and held on. Maeda was no immediate threat.
Fifa brought in a rule in the summer precisely to prevent these incidents happening. Goalkeeper are allowed eight seconds to retain the ball. If they go beyond that they are penalised by the award of a corner.
WALSH DEFIES THE LAWS
Except when Walsh is refereeing Celtic. He knows the rules and panicked today with Richards hitting 20 seconds and beyond.
Celtic should have been awarded a corner. For no obvious reason Walsh gave United a free kick.
During the first five minutes there were two stoppages for injuries to United players. There was another stoppage later in the half with a United player injured.
Despite those stoppages and the usual time wasting Walsh added just one minute of stoppage time.
He ended the first half with Celtic due a corner kick.
For reasons unknown Walsh and Don Robertson have already refereed eight Celtic matches.
Neither of those officials will be going to the World Cup in the summer despite the competition expanding to 104 games.
When we get a competent board we need to raise these issues with UEFA and have our games visibly monitored for these incidents. Hibs were the worst, players just feigning injury, lying on the ground and the play getting regularly stopped. Totally disgraceful but if we don’t stand up for ourselves, nobody else will.
So never then?
3pm Saturday, not on live TV except celtic tv, refs can do what they want
Walsh cannot read. Wee wullie, needs to explain this cheating decision. The celtic player, was 2 yards away from keeper. Both feet on ground, not moving. Interested in reasoning.
In the first half playbwas stopped because a Dundee United player got hit by the ball. 50 seconds later play resumed. Later in the half, another Utd player went down injured. Over a minute before play restarted. 2 goals were scored, minimum a minute each before centered.
1 (one) minute added. Denying Celtic at least one more attacking play.
2nd half there were multiple substitutions, 2 further goals and injuries. 3 mins added. It’s simply cheating!
As I have said before we are watching pantomime football,oh no we are not,joke over.
But we have bought into this comedy act that takes place every week,so we really can’t complain when we are funding it.
Great performance today,hopefully we are back on track.
Our club is all part of the big fix,our hands are as dirty as everyone else.
Corrupt from top to bottom these refs make their own rules regards us mr collum al hold ma breath hh
Until we have a C.E.O that will do the job he’s paid well for doing and a board to have the balls to stand up to the corrupt sfa and officials celtic will never be treated fairly.
Exactly Jamie!
He is a world class and a great guy who will be gutted that he’s made an honest mistake.
The one minute in the first half was cheating of the highest order. No doubt Celtic will muster all their forces and do …
Sweet FA.
Great result, reading the quack news ,,Stivieans co , are saying beware falkirk FFS , it’s a Junior team not prime barca , if we are aware of them ! HELP MA BOAB
Make sure you get the tonge away from the cheek again William.
The record etc screaming Celtic got away with one ( Araujo )
Dickinson the ref tomorrow at the sheep pen by any chance ?
God bless Martin O’ Neill & Fk a huns and the mini hunnies…
How often was he caught in the final 3rd of play? Can anyone tell me? It seemed to me he was always dodging passess?
Anyone?
In British Super League (Rugby League) the clock stops for injuries and then restarts when signaled by the ref’s whistle. If a player stays on the ground for too long he has to be taken off for treatment and replaced. He can come back on only after two minutes has elapsed. Half time is when 45 minutes of play has occurred. There are International Rules for concussion. The crowd and TV viewers can see the clock. Taking players off who lay on the ground feigning injury is reduced,
Why is added time in British football always a rounded minute?
Correction: Rugby League is 4o minutes of Play per half.
I left a comment here in the early hours roughly about the messiah is back. Going on the comments posted post match it’s definitely the 3rd coming. I genuinely like MON he has done a great job when he was here first. Second time, fair play he won against the odds against no-one. Third time? Lest see how this plays out. I also happened by the story of Shay Givens having to apologise for the use of the word ‘holocaust ‘ Maybe someone with any brains should have said the obvious. Are you talking about the Israeli treatment of Palestinian
Harold @ 8.04pm…
It was a Tav Pen at The Sheep Pen !