The boys of 2016 as Mark Warburton loses the Scottish Cup Final to Hibs
Typical of events at Tynecastle yesterday Steven McLean and John Beaton decided to ignore a red card assault on Arne Engels.
Midway inside the Hearts half and close to the touchline Arne Engels positioned himself to head a long diagonal ball.
Filled with the anger and the hatred of the home fans Jamie McCart decided that it was a great opportunity to wipe out an opponent.
While Engels kept his focus on the ball McCart flew in dangerous and high from Engels’ right side. Leading with his left elbow to the side of his opponents head.
It was right in front of the assistant referee. The Main Stand at Tynecastle roared their approval. As did the officials by taking no action other than awarding Hearts a throw in.
How’s this not a free kick? Ffs pic.twitter.com/yKZ4RbxfLa
— Raffles (@NoleBhoy) January 25, 2026
Anywhere else in Europe that incident is a clear free kick to Celtic.
MCLEAN OPTS OUT OF A DECISION
Then it is upto the match referee to decide on further punishment. Yell ow or red card?
If he opts for yellow the VAR official might decided that it needs reviewed pitchside. Slow motions, frame by frame showing McCart’s intention and leading with his elbow.
Later in the second half Beaton did intervene, suggesting that a review was needed of the yellow card given to Auston Trusty. McLean obliged and the Celtic defender was sent off.
That incident was typical of the officiating at Tynecastle.
Celtic had 45.5% possession yet McLean came up with a foul count of 22-13 against the hoops.
Possession was almost 50-50. Hearts were awarded almost twice as many free kicks as Celtic.
These patterns are nothing new, Celtic usually have between 65-75% possession with the free kick count in reverse.
SELECTIVE APPOINTMENTS OF WILL COLLUM
Under the referees appointed by Willie Collum teams know that they can have free kicks almost on demand. Any contact- hit the deck and enjoy a breather.
The reverse also applies. Players can go steaming in on Celtic players, as McCart did with little prospect of the Laws of the Game being applied.
Football matches are decided by small margins. McLean and Beaton know how influential their decision making can be.
As does Collum. Head of Refereeing at the SFA. Since Celtic won the League Cup Final at the start of November appointments and decision making have been at Crawford Allan levels.
Michael Nicholson is expecting a quiet week, recovering from his exciting jolly to Bologna.
If that had been a Celtic player I’m pretty sure it would have been a red card.
Why does the VAR REVIEW only review what incidents where VAR only gets involved and not where they do not get involved.
I can’t wait to hear Collum’s explanation (defence) of the Trusty sending off.
It is time Celtic withdrew from this cheating and corrupt league
they work as a tag team , sharing the load , and it will ever be so , they ain’t finished with us yet , expect more in the line of favouring sevco to win this league and more penalising of Celtic , they haven’t the job done on us yet , but they sure are working on it
Anyone seen another still of the line before the Hearts equaliser?
Convinced it was offside.
Showed once by SKY then nvr referred to again.
I said at the time the ball came in there was a Hearts player in the centre of their line across the box who was offside as the free kick was taken.
At that point nobody knows who will get to the ball and how quickly does it become “second phase”?
The guy in the middle was offside.
Sky showed it once and moved on whilst Beaton cleaned himself up with tissues.
“Since Celtic won the League Cup Final at the start of November…” – wrong month/wrong winner. The only thing we’ll win with this bunch of 28 year old + johnny foreigners is the wooden spoon. Colby dropped again.
On the red card stitch up …. McLean sees the foUl and where the ball is heading to , absolutely clearly and decisively so gives a correct yellow card to Trusty . Then Beaton panics in the VAR poodle parlour about his free booze in the Belshill Crown Bar drying up and needs to take alternative action ….jobs a good yin ! How can a ball going away from goal , be a goalscoring opportunity ? It’s bent ! That’s going further than Martin O’Neill saying brilliantly that it was ‘ no more a red card than a blue card ! ‘ The man is as sharp as a tack .
Aye well – ya get what you choose to pay for…
Lucan Taking £17,000 sayin F**k all…
And he will continue to say F**k all !