GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 19: Matthew MacDermid and Mark O'Hara during a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final match between Celtic and St Mirren at Barclays Hampden, on April 19, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Over the weekend it seems that Ian Maxwell’s attention was wholly on Michael Stewart. Not Mark O’Hara and Matthew MacDermid.
The former Scotland midfielder has been critical of Scotland’s match officials.
He has plenty of evidence to call on, backed up by a cheap version of VAR Scotland’s match officials are seriously sub-standard.
Week after week they apply subjectivity to the Laws of the Game. Once a month Willie Collum ties himself in knots defending the decisions made.
Uefa can see through them. John Beaton and David Dickinson get thrown a few Conference League matches because someone has to get those fixtures.
Nick Walsh has refereed four Champions League matches this season. His handling of domestic matches is a running joke.
FIFA agrees. Out of 170 officials selected to cover the 104 matches at the expanded World Cup Finals none come from Scotland.
But we have to tolerate them.
Collum is in the business of fast tracking his emerging clones. In the belief that being in their early to mid-thirties they are ready for a long career in the international game.
Referees like Matthew MacDermid, Duncan Nicolson, Grant Irvine and Ross Hardie.
MacDermid has had a nightmare season. Regardless of that he was put in charge of the Celtic v St Mirren Scottish Cup semi-final. He was miles out of his depth.
— Celtic IG (@CelticIg) April 20, 2026
After 11 minutes of the match MacDermid was presented with the easiest of decisions.
O’HARA GETS A HELPING HAND FROM REFEREE MACDERMID
St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara raised both arms in full view of MacDermid and his assistant Calum Spence to catch the ball. He never quite managed that but made contact with the ball.
MacDermid is a school teacher, Spence a Police Officer from Aberdeen.
Both are clearly programmed in to levelling up.
Celtic should have been given a free kick with O’Hara being booked. Curtaining him for the remainder of the match.
MacDermid looked dazzled by the incident.
Not only did he chose not to book O’Hara but he refused to give Celtic a free kick. Play resumed with a Celtic throw-in with O’Hara having licence to play on as if nothing had happened.
That came in useful in the fifth minute of stoppage time. James Forrest was scythed down. O’Hara was booked, taking one for the team.
Had MacDermid applied the Laws of the Game properly the St Mirren would have been presented with a different option.
He would be taking a red card or he’d be letting Forrest get a free run down the wing. We know the havoc that the Celtic winger was soon causing.
MacDermid thought that he was quietly helping St Mirren out with little or nothing in the way of consequences. There were. Celtic suffered.
Fortunately four goals in extra-time ensured that MacDermid’s deliberate mistake didn’t cost Celtic a place in the final.
MacDermid can expect to be heavily involved in the post-split SPFL Premiership fixtures.
His last Celtic SPFL match was against Hibs in February where he sent off Auston Trusty then decided that the shirt pulling on Liam Scales wasn’t long enough to merit a penalty.
