GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 15: Referee Don Robertson interacts with Jack Butland of Rangers during the Premier League match between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox Stadium on December 15, 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Don Robertson used up his final life today as he gifted Hibs a goal against Celtic that was against the Laws of the Game.
Joe Newell used his arm twice before shooting past Vin Sinisalo to equalise in first half stoppage time.
A second half goal from Kelechi Iheanacho will take some of the spotlight away from the Glasgow based official who was on VAR duty.
Many will suggest that Robertson’s career should have been ended in April 2017 after Celtic drew 1-1 away to Ross County.
There was at least one metre between Erick Sviatchenko and Alex Shalk when the Ross County forward fell dramatically to the ground.
Robertson couldn’t wait to award a penalty.
Celtic won 34 and drew four of their matches in the 2016/17 season. Robertson denied Celtic a victory in Dingwall.
That should have been the end of his refereeing career. Instead it was the making of Robertson.
He shares a similar background to Willie Collum without the school teaching aspect. He has been called out on social media, he goes into overdrive to prove otherwise. It has been a very lucrative second income.
Robertson has followed the Collum template to succeed in Scottish refereeing. He has excelled, just like his master.
Today at Easter Road he took his influence a few steps further.
DON ROBERTSON HAS PLENTY OF PREVIOUS
With the benefit of the VAR cameras and those from Sky Sports he refused to disallow the goal from Newall.
Everyone watching the Sky Sports coverage saw Newall use his arm twice. Even Kris Boyd.
Disgraceful decision!
Can win or lose titles based on fuckin ? like Don Robertson.If it’s not complete incompetence, it can only be blatant cheating.
It literally hits his forearm then his hand. So, not once but TWICE it hits him pic.twitter.com/VS6ARATOIe— Lenny Bruce (@lennydabruce) May 3, 2026
Robertson has a long track record of awarding decisions against Celtic.
The evidence is out there.
Since July 2012 Celtic have refused to challenge the SFA on any issue.
Robertson must be removed from the three remaining games of the SPFL season.
If Celtic say nothing they are giving the green light to the SFA to crank things up in the remaining fixtures.
WILLIE COLLUM AND THE USUAL SUSPECTS
Andrew Dallas, Greg Aitken, Steven McLean and the rest have came through the same system as Robertson and Collum.
They are the Scottish refereeing elite. Robertson has refereed two of the five Glasgow Derbies this season.
UEFA don’t rate him, in August he got his only UEFA appointment, a UEFA Conference qualifier.
FIFA gave him two friendly matches in New Zealand in September.
Pressed at AGMs Nicholson has referenced working behind the scenes on refereeing matters. In 2022 he asked shareholders to give VAR time to provide fairer outcomes.
VAR under one of the top referees was in action today.
It never cost Celtic any points. It cost them a goal in the tightest of SPFL title races. The title could be decided on goal difference. Small margins matter.
The time has long gone for Celtic issuing statements. Fans don’t want a statement about being ‘surprised and disappointed’. Or writing to the SFA seeking clarification.
Celtic have to go public tonight saying that Robertson can’t be involved in any of the remaining fixtures this season.
Anything less just provides Robertson and his colleagues with the opportunity to interpret the Laws of the Game that suits them best.
After five years in hiding Michael Nicholson has the opportunity to make his first ever positive contribution to Celtic.
Those pesky anti-establishment fans are watching and waiting.
John Beaton will referee tomorrow’s match at Tynecastle. His Lanarkshire Refereeing Association colleague Andrew Dallas will be on VAR.
Let’s see Willie Collum talk his pal out of this one in the review show.
We are watching a CORRUPT game why the F**K are people buying into through season books and subscriptions to cable tv.
At least with wrestling we know it’s a fix,we know whst we are getting for our bucks,but today’s game with Hibs and that goal being ALLOWED to stand,is basically just GASLIGHTING us all.
Tomorrow’s game with sevco and their doppelganger klub is a stitch up already ,whoever comes out the winner there will then get every decision in their favour for the remainder of the games left of the season,that’s a guarantee.
Even the village idiot seen that today with that decision,now when picks up on that the SFA and those officials have a problem.
That goal today for Hibs the ball rolled down the Hibs players arm onto his hand or wrist for him to control that ball before putting into the net,as I said above it’s GASLIGHTING us all.
More amazingly Campbell’s rag doll’s Nygren in penalty box . Stonewall penalty and possibly red car.
Sending off and penalty against hearts for huns tomorrow after John Beaton and Dallas conspire together….safe bet
There are 3 big decisions in today’s game. The first goal the linesman flags for offside, he’s not in line with play so he is guessing. Don Robertson and whoever his assistant is are the only 2 people who see replays of the Hibs goal and don’t see a hand being used. Then to cap it off Nygren nips round the Hibs defender, who is running the ball out, and gets a 2 handed shove which should have resulted in a penalty. These are all clear for everyone to see.
if don had dissallowed the goal it would have benefitted celtic. bad career move!
Atrocious today , blatant cheating
It’s going to get a lot worse .
Starting tomorrow evening
They’re going all out
Cheating off THE FU**IN SCALE…
Coming to a Glasgow Derby near to you very soon…
And our ‘dead’ CEO will say nothing…
Well he’s not alive is he !