GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Referee Nick Walsh checks VAR for a potential penalty for Hibernian during a William Hill Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Hibernian at Ibrox Stadium, on September 29, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
John Beaton’s appointment to take charge of Sunday’s Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park took most of the headlines.
Beyond that it was a little odd to see Nick Walsh on VAR duty, a week after being in the middle, refereeing the two clubs at Ibrox.
Apparently the SFA has two full time VAR officials in Andrew Dallas and Greg Aitken.
With Dallas doing the Ibrox clash it would seem logical that Aitken gets to VAR the match on Sunday.
Sure everyone who knows Aitken understands that his local club Kilmarnock is his wee team. When you put a grinning picture with Ally McCoist while on duty at a match on your Facebook profile it gives the game away.
For his own reasons Willie Collum has put Walsh on VAR. And out of the multiple officials that could have been the assistant VAR Collum has gone for Grant Irvine.
Walsh and Irvine are school teachers at Boclair Academy, click on that link, under Senior Staff, under Depute Head Teacher S5 you’ll find Mr N Walsh.
Click under Physical Education Staff and you’ll find G Irvine as a DHT, Walsh also makes an appearance as a DHT.
The most utterly blatant strip pull AND PENATLY you will ever see !!!!!
You shitebags better call it out @CelticFC !!
Grant Irvine doing a top job in the VAR room – another embarrassment of an official in this country … https://t.co/Yp9cXL1bp0
— B (@Br7do) February 22, 2026
It is very strange that the same workplace has produced two of Scotland ‘s elite match officials.
So far in six rounds of SPFL Premiership fixtures Collum has selected 13 officials to referee matches this season.
Walsh has refereed just two, Irvine hasn’t refereed any Premiership matches.
Yet from the same workplace Collum has selected two PE colleagues for the vital task of operating VAR. And as Honest Willie claimed a few weeks ago ‘we don’t guess at VAR decisions’ as he talked Gordon Duncan through how the officials guess at the kick-point. Duncan nodded and smiled throughout the Whitewash.
CELTIC UP AGAINST CONFLICTED DUO ON VAR
As many supporters will know Boclair Academy in Bearsden isn’t just any secondary school.
It is the partner school for the football club formed by Charles Green in 2012.
Most of the players in the club Academy attend the school where they have a special timetable to give them as much football time as possible.
At 7.30am they train at Murray Park, travel together to Boclair Academy then return to Murray Park afterwards for more training.
All with the help and co-operation of the PE staff including Walsh and Irvine.
No other country in UEFA would consider such a conflict of interests in any match. In Scotland it is in place for the biggest league fixture.
There are 361 secondary schools in Scotland, from one of them two match officials will be heavily involved in Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.
Tonight’s Europa League match at Celtic Park will be refereed by officials from Croatia with the Assistant VAR from Belgium. As it should be.
In the five years that Michael Nicholson has been Celtic CEO the club hasn’t made a single complaint about refereeing issues.
It seems that the current CEO hasn’t got round to using the ‘surprised and disappointed’ statement template favoured by his mentor Peter Lawwell.
What should Celtic Fans Collective do with Not Another Penny?
CONTINUE- This is the main way to protest
SUSPEND- Let us see what Celtic Connect produces
ABANDON- No longer required or useful
Probably worth telling the Celtic Fans Collective how the poll is looking as they’re interested in supporter feedback. FWIW, I’d stick with NAP but ramp up the pressure with mass demos and all sorts of open protests. The CFC seem happy they can meet with JPT who was Liaison Officer and probably still is with a new name. They’re pissing into the wind here. JPT seems like a decent fella but is powerless and hence the meeting is just our stinking board kicking the can down the road another bit and the CFC fall for it, AGAIN.
HUNT THE BASTARDS!
I would NEVER meet with those 2 teaboys .
He won’t give anything against us on Sunday because he won’t need to as Celtic are weak as a new born kitten and Sevco are as strong as an Ox physically…
If as I expect Sevco are in control he can save it for a future Glasgow Derby when Celtic might get their house in better order…
Oh F*ck – Ah Just realised Lucan is our CEO so that won’t happen while he’s stinking Parkhead out !