GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 25: Referee Ryan Lee during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park, on April 25, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic overcame a horrific refereeing display from Ryan Lee to beat Falkirk 3-1 to join Hearts in top place in the SPFL Premiership.
A double from Daizen Maeda either side of a brilliant strike from Kieran Tierney gave the home side full points.
Falkirk dominated possession for periods in each half but Celtic’s biggest obstacle was from referee Lee.
Early in the second half Lee gave a series of ‘baffling’ decisions which left the Celtic players as angry as the fans.
CELTIC AGAINST ALL ODDS
Every 50-50 challenge went in favour of Falkirk. While the away side were given free kicks whenever they hit the deck Maeda and Ben Nygren were on the end of some brutal treatment.
Celtic had 55% of possession. Lee awarded 16 free kicks against the dominant team and just 9 against Falkirk.
Topping it off Lee constantly positioned himself as an additional defensive midfielder for Falkirk. Blocking Celtic’s passing moves and forcing the hoops to play around a 12th opponent.
Dylan Tait wins ball cleanly with right foot, then on follow through boots Arne Engels across right ankle ligament & both knees. Engels lucky feet weren’t planted – poor challenge – some Celtic fans booing for ‘excessive force’. Incredible foul wasn’t even given by Ryan Lee pic.twitter.com/cpi5xf3tWj
— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) April 25, 2026
On the half hour Maeda intercepted an attempted clearance from Keelan Adams, seeing goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth off his line the striker slotting home from 30 yards out.
Two minutes from half time Maeda again hassled possession for Celtic. Tierney was set up with the former Arsenal man crashing the ball into the net off the crossbar.
After a spell of pressure from Celtic Falkirk put the game back in the balance with a great strike from Kyrell Wilson.
There were some nerves on and off the park but in the 83rd minute Madea turned onto a cut-back from Sebastian Tounekti to send Celtic 3-1 in front.
There were no VAR interventions from Chris Graham and Greg Aitken.
Celtic are next in action next Sunday away to Hibs who take on Hearts tomorrow.
Lee is a former pupil of Musselburgh Grammar School.
?? “They are right in this title race!”
Kieran Tierney doubles Celtic’s lead over Falkirk ? pic.twitter.com/WHgtTKWaew
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 25, 2026
How many away fans should be at the May 10 Glasgow Derby?
2,500 Welcome bears
Allow 800 like other clubs
Zero angry bears
The way those tackles had been getting smashed into our players,I thought it was Bruce as the ref.
Bruce Lee as the ref.