David Dickinson appeared to get through refereeing the Celtic v Hearts match without making any major errors.
When the match ends 7-1 refereeing issues and mistakes tend to get overlooked.
Dickinson’s mistakes tend to have a built in pattern, his extended family make no mistake about which club their support. ‘Uncle’ David in Australia is especially staunch despite the distance involved in following his first love.
Celtic’s first half performance managed to negate the biggest error of the day. Had it involved another club Sky Sports might have shown it on a loop with Kris Boyd getting angrier with each showing.
After the double from Callum Osmand the game was as good as done.
Within the space of two minutes Celtic’s catchable 2-0 lead had been converted into an emphatic 4-0 first half lead.
Soon after Celtic went 4-0 up the ball went out for a Hearts throw-in near to the Celtic dug-out.
The throw-in was taken 20 yards further down the line. Out of sympathy Dickinson allowed play to continue, quickly the ball ended up in the back of the net.
Laurent Mendy tucked it away very well but the goal should never have stood. Dickinson should have blown his whistle as soon as the throw in was taken and redirected Hearts 20 yards back towards the halfway line.
From there Celtic are better set up to defend the ball. It is harder for Hearts to get down the left wing, to cut it back for Mendy to score.
Not that anyone at Sky Sports was willing to highlight that issue.
Where it went out compared to where Dickinson let them take it from. Mon was protesting about it. https://t.co/ofRSeccKNe
— Brian (@Stoneysnapper) October 18, 2026
QUESTION: After the Hearts goal, Martin, you seemed quite annoyed at the fourth official?
I’ve apologised.
I’ve apologised to the fourth official. I’ve apologised because I thought the referee allowed the ball to be taken 20 yards further up the field.
That’s the problem with the multi-balls. And when the multi-balls don’t go in your favour, then you’re not happy. When they go in your favour, you don’t say a word. But yeah, that was where it… And they scored the goal from that.
Generally football is a game of small margins. When first meets third normally a tight match can be expected.
DICKINSON HAS A LENGTHY CHARGE SHEET
Fortunately Celtic’s domination overcame Dickinson’s failure to apply the Laws of the Game.
Celtic fans know what to expect when the Renfrew based official is in charge of their matches.
His previous Celtic match was littered with big mistakes that all went in a certain direction. Away to Hibs in May, the second of the five post-split fixtures.
Dickinson felt that Kieran McGrath’s brutal attack on Alistair Johnston was only worth a yellow card. Fortunately VAR stepped in to upgrade that decision.
Soon afterwards Joe Newell used his arm twice as Hibs equalised.
Early in the second half Josh Campbell used both hands to push Ben Nygren off the pitch from inside the penalty box. Bye-kick to Hibs and nothing to see here.
Dickinson’s career seems to have stalled in recent seasons after he shot through the ranks.
There has been no cup final appointment or the Glasgow Derby that his family and friends have hoped for.
It seems that a regular run of matches involving his favourite club has been the compensation of falling just short of Willie Collum’s standards.
Or if Scales hadn’t ducked out of the way to let the ball pass him …
The shocking incompetence of Scottish referees ( and Dickinson is a major culprit) should be called out every single time no matter the score. As should their blatant “honest mistakes”. ( and Dickinson seems to be, when these are eventually under duress highlighted by the Laptop Loyal, shown up to be a major culprit for these too!)
I’m not sure why MON demeans his stating the case every time by playing the “I’m maybe a bitty biased and wouldn’t complain if I’d got the decision” card. Incompetence or “Honest mistakes “ should be called out every time.