GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 16: Former Rangers forward and Sky Sports Pundit Kris Boyd is interviewed by Luke Shanley ahead of a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on March 16, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Sky Sports and BBC Scotland played their role in the horrific decisions at Easter Road on Sunday.
The broadcast partners of the SPFL, taking the phrase partners to extremes.
Sky broadcast the match live on television with the BBC providing radio commentary followed by early evening highlights.
Both broadcasters covered the ridiculous decisions that went against Celtic during the match.
On the pitch four key decisions by the match officials went against Celtic.
Two were corrected by Don Robertson in the VAR studio. Two weren’t.
On the pitch they got zero out of four decisions correct. The VAR team did slightly better with a 50% success rate.
SKY SPORTS AND BBC ARE MESSENGERS FOR THE SFA
The broadcasters lapped up the controversy. With four matches left to play these decisions will have an impact on the outcome of the title.
Of course fans will be kept in the dark. No on the record explanations are never given over refereeing decisions and issues.
The broadcasters do have an advantage. They are given access to the conversation from the VAR room, not from the referee.
This relationship is vital.
It gives broadcasters an extra insight.
In return the SFA use their broadcast partners to send out a message to defend the mistakes made by their officials.
Yesterday the Daily Record reported:
The SFA released guidance to Sky Sports over the incident, stating there was “insufficient evidence of a handball to overturn the on-field decision.”
They never even bothered trying to justify not awarding a penalty when Ben Nygren was pushed off the ball.
There was plenty of evidence of the Joe Newell handball. Even Kris Boyd could see it.
Sky loved the controversy. It was clipped up across their social media platforms.
Rather than provide a service by holding the SFA to account over farcical explanations Sky and BBC are part of it.
Whatever excuse the SFA trot out they won’t be questioned by the broadcasters. They will happily and unquestioningly pass the message on.
Football supporters, subscribers and license payers are getting a product. Not a sport.
Should Celtic demand the removal of Don Robertson from all matches?
YES- He took things too far against Hibs
NO- He made mistakes but is a top referee
There may have been “insufficient evidence” to knock the goal off but we now know there is “sufficient evidence” that Don Robertson is a cheating bastard that should never be allowed anywhere near a game that involves Celtic or Sevco, especially in this run in.
How does he survive this as a pro ref at the top level in Scotland?
This must constitute one of the worst errors any ref could make.
He should be removed from the roster for the rest of the season at the very least.
Will the celtic board stand up for the good of the game or once again let their fans down.