GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 03: Referee Duncan Nicolson awards Dundee a free kick as Dundee's Jon McCracken is fouled by Celtic's Daizen Maeda during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Cetlic Park, on December 03, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Duncan Nicolson is one of the golden boys in Scottish refereeing.
Part of a talentless group that Willie Collum is determined to inflict on the game.
The SFA have got some far out ideas to push through younger Scottish footballers.
Craig Mulholland, a man with no football ability at any level is in charge of that.
Likewise Collum is bringing through his batch of referees.
Folk like Nicolson, Matthew MacDermid and Ryan Lee.
All have the same refereeing ‘style’ of being the centre of attention, imposing their wishes on footballers who they regard as their support act. Exactly the same as Collum.
Pushing him beyond his ability Nicolson was put in charge of matches at Celtic Park and Ibrox in the space of four days.
It seems that he passed with flying colours.
On Saturday a penalty was awarded against Motherwell when it could just as easily have been a free kick for the visitors.
That decision came just days after Nicolson was happy to deny Camilo Duran a penalty despite Mats Knoester having two hands around the waist of the Celtic forward six yards from goal.
Nicolson knows the route to the top in Scotland.
Well the Rangers player DID go down as if he was shot…? Might as well give him a penalty. ?????
— Tam Canning (@TBabing) September 5, 2026
NICOLSON-PROMOTED WAY ABOVE HIS ABILITY
At Ibrox on Saturday Motherwell had 59% possession of the ball.
You’d expect that they’d edge it in free kicks awarded, being on the ball more often than their opponents.
Not a bit of it. Nicolson wants to stay in the limelight, pick up the highest appearance fees.
Motherwell were awarded seven free-kicks, their opponents 12. Motherwell got 37% of the free kicks, they had 59% possession.
When Celtic played Aberdeen on Wednesday they had 66% possession of the ball. Nicolson awarded 10 free kicks against the team with most possession, just 7 free kicks were awarded against Aberdeen. 59% of the free kicks were awarded against the dominant team.
Nicolson has also become a master of the Disadvantage Rule.
Of the seven free kicks awarded to Celtic two were delayed decisions as Celtic broke into attack. Halting momentum, giving Aberdeen time to regroup.
Craig Thomson was the pioneer of that tactic. It seems to be a training feature for referees coming into the SPFL Premiership.
Duncan Nicolson’s performance tonight was disgraceful. Another one who gives every touch on an opposition player as a foul, while ignoring similar challenges on Celtic players. The classic @ScottishFA interpretation of advantage -I.e. if Celtic look like breaking give the foul.
— LombardiaNumeroQuattro (@Lothianno4) September 3, 2026
Nicolson is rising through the refereeing ranks, nothing is more certain, he has grasped what is expected of him.
Collum has two Glasgow Derbies over the next fortnight to appoint officials for.
He is anxious to get MacDermid and David Dickinson onto that rota but after recent events Collum is expected to stand by his old favourites for the first two Derby matches of the season.
During the video below Nicolson mentions pre-match analysis with the SFA sending him a data-pack for the teams he will be refereeing. Something else that the SFA aren’t keen on publishing.
Data packs? Can you explain why they would require data on the teams they’re preparing to referee.
Could it be, “watch their centerback closely, he’s always pulling jerseys?
Don’t be fooled by their no 9. He goes down too easy”
There is no other reason for data on a team, unless you’re trying to beat them.
Still cannot believe that game against Hibs when Celtic dominated as per usual and Hibs conceded ONE free kiPck!
Kick!