Duncan Nicolson welcomed in the Derek McInnes Revolution to Ibrox with two penalties last night against St Etienne.
With James Tavernier released at the end of last season Lawrence Shankland and Thelo Aasgaard were given some much needed practice from 12 yards out.
Both penalties fall into the dubious category. Even in Scotland they would struggle to get past VAR checks despite having John Beaton, Steven McLean or Andrew Dallas involved.
Djeidi Gassama went into theatrics for the first penalty with no sign of any contact.
Substitute Bojan Miovski looked suspiciously offside as he raced in on goal before falling at the challenge from the St Etienne goalkeeper.
MCINNES LAUNCHES HIS TACTICS TEMPLATE
The French Second Division giants looked more comfortable throughout the match against the staunch style of McInnes’ side.
With a lack of creativity in midfield and virtually nothing from the wings the home side simply went back to front.
It was only slightly more sophisticated than a huge punt from Peter McCloy aimed at Derek Johnston from the now defunct Rangers.
2 pens for the Huns at Ipox tonight, who’s the ref ffs ?
— Mon the Hoops??? (@CWN1967) July 22, 2026
Nicolson is one of Willie Collum’s rising stars on the refereeing circuit.
Last season he missed two clear penalty box hand ball claims as Celtic won 3-2 at Kilmarnock in February.
As Collum enters his third season as Head of Refereeing standards are dropping rapidly.
None of his elite officials got near to being involved in the World Cup Finals.
In the season ahead David Dickinson is expected to feature strongly having came through last season delivering the required outcomes with distinction.
The SPFL Premiership gets underway on July 31 with a tricky away game against Dundee United.
Dickinson or McLean are expected to be put in charge of that match with Greg Aitken or Dallas as back up on VAR.
Last night the Ibrox club announced that they will appeal against the three match touchline ban given to McInnes.
Celtic denied what looks a penalty for handball by Brad Lyons at Rugby Park. Oxlade-Chamberlain shot goal bound – Brad Lyons looks to stop it with his arm then goes down as if it hit him on head. You can see him looking where ball went, indicating it hit on hand. pic.twitter.com/YzwDytueFI
— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) February 15, 2026
Nicholson referees Kilmarnock v Celtic
From this still it appears the hand is already past the ball before it changes path. Unless there’s a better angle looks like head from this one pic.twitter.com/JUX9Txf1Pm
— Sean Down Under (@Sean_Down_Under) February 15, 2026
Lpl at the bigoted klubs statement straight out of the Farage book of excuses and playing the sympathy card.
The klan klub put it out there the pundits in Scotland as well as throughout the UK said the decisions the SFA and officials dished out were wrong,a wee bit like Farage, it’s the people that matter and punish me not the people who make the rules in the House of Commons.
You couldn’t make that shit up from the klan klub.
But watch for when the season kicks off,because these officials and the SFA will feel obligated as to owing sevco and Hearts some favours after Celtic won the league last season with allsorts of innuendos floating about.
They will redeem themselves,that’s a cert.
Watched the match, wow are we in for a glorious treat this season, the meltdown will be epic…… Only concern being the Celtic board and their snail paced dealings…
HH
their first penalty was a work of art the hun player was in the air before the ball was even near him
I wonder if St Etienne asked for their bike back?
A sign of the season to come, I do wonder though if McInnes will have much to say about the plethora of pens that are gonna come his way, mostly under dubious circumstances.
Shankland is standing on the threshold of being the greatest striker ever to grace the game here…..once u add on his 20 odd pens to his other goals.
They’ll be waxing lyrical at the Daily Retard about him, and auld Spugh on SuperSashBash will be beaming with pride wi every heeder that goes in off that skyscraper of a foreheed.
You literally could put SSB on a replay loop from the last 5 years and nobody would notice.
A dunno how many more seasons o this pish I can take.
I still can’t get my head around the fact that the refereeing standards at the now ended World Cup were as feeble and substandard and at times completely inept as you will see in many a tournament ! Yet not one Scottish ref or assistant referee could make the cut for the football competition because they were not even capable of producing any qualities or had the skills or talents that impressed FIFA to merit it ! And the new season is around the corner with those same overlooked and discarded and disregarded officials still attempting to masquerade as being capable at their jobs !
We are in for one long season from officials…
Youse all know it…
I know it…
And the dogs in the fu**in streets know it…
Sevco must get what Sevco wants and Sevco will fu**in well get what it wants !