Don’t mention the Celtic penalty claim.
That seemed to be the blanket message sent out during Celtic’s 2-1 Scottish Cup win over Dundee.
Post match Premier Sports and BBC Scotland had exclusive interviews with Martin O’Neill. Neither asked his thoughts on the first half penalty incident. Neither did anyone at the all in media conference.
Premier Sports made a lot of the first half incident when Tomas Cvancara was grabbed then pushed over by Dundee’s Luke Graham.
Michael Stewart on co-commentary duty was first to raise the prospect of a penalty.
Celtic were awarded a free kick which was taken about two feet outside the corner of the penalty box.
In the VAR room Andrew Dallas and David Dickinson came to a decision in around 15 seconds. The outcome was decided before the outcome was reviewed.
Last night was Dickinson’s third pay day in seven days. Last Sunday he refereed Celtic v Falkirk, on Wednesday he was on the pitch at Ibrox for the visit of Kilmarnock. Clearly he is a real favourite of Willie Collum.
Match referee Ryan Lee was horrific throughout.
Dundee were given free kicks on demand as they hit the deck to take a breather.
CELTIC DENIED BY DALLAS AND DICKINSON DUET
Clearly watching the top Scottish referees he provided Steven Pressley with an additional defensive midfielder.
Constantly he placed himself too close to Celtic players as they pushed forward in the final third of the pitch. Providing a screen to block forward passes.
It is almost as if this tactic is used in training sessions by Scottish referees. Lee is a quick learner.
When Cvancara was fouled he was close enough to see that the foul was inside the box. He didn’t want to put Dallas and Dickinson on the spot. He knows the route to the top in Scottish refereeing.
“I think Dundee have maybe got away with one there” 👀@charlie_mulgrew and Tony Docherty share their thoughts on Celtic’s first half penalty appeal 🗣️#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/iCIOVNuAvQ
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 7, 2026
Before the second half started Emma Dodds read out a statement rushed to her by the SFA, almost certainly a panic struck Willie Collum.
In the 38th minute, a free kick is correctly awarded outside the penalty area because the pushing began outside and continued inside.
However, it can only be punished if it is holding that continues inside. Pushing can only be punished at the initial point of contact.
There is no distinction in the Laws of the Game between pushing and pulling, both occurred in the Cvancara incident.
The SFA have been caught out with rushed reactive statements before.
Also, even though we know they are going heavy on semantics in an attempt to bend reality.
The defender puts hands on the Celtic forward outside the box (arms bent no motion) the actual ‘Push’ (extending arms with force on to the Celtic forward) is inside the box. pic.twitter.com/aMRKAfUaaI
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) February 7, 2026
The rushed and contrived excuse issued to Premier Sports confirms that Collum knew a mistake had been made.
By one of his rising star referees and supported by two of his most trusted VAR officials.
Dickinson has been in his element since Danny Rohl was appointed manager at Ibrox. His family are delighted by the run of results, especially since defeat in the League Cup semi-final defeat from Celtic.
Dickinson has refereed four matches inside two months involving Rohl’s team. In each match there has been penalty issues, all going in the predicted direction.
CELTIC ARE ALL IN WITH THEIR PREFERRED MEDIA PARTNERS
With their media enablers there was a week long scandal run on a booking for Auston Trusty in the League Cup semi-final.
Only a token reference to Derek Cornelius escaping a red card for his assault on Johnny Kenny, or the follow up assault by Mohamed Diomande.
It took four days for any coverage of the Reo Hatate penalty incident to surface. The handball on a Michel-Ange Balikwisha cross never made the transition from social media to the mainstream.
Celtic have an alternative media network to highlight these issues.
Communications Manager Iain Jamieson choose to cut off all access to the club at the start of December.
Celtic and Jamieson prefer to work on their relationships with newspapers and legacy broadcasters.
The newspapers that fabricate stories like the blade man of Tannadice. Complete lunacy. Backed up by Celtic and their media and communications staff.
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4 Comments
by Chris paterson
If that was the team across the city they’d get penalty no doubt about that but the rules are ignored by a bias ref and even more corrupt var operators wtf does the pay towards var when we are repeatedly being cheated
Imo Celtic should demand a meeting with Collum and withdraw financially from paying for VAR its obvious there’s clear and obvious bias and hatred towards Celtic
by Barney McGhee
They are world class officials and great guys who will be gutted if they have made an honest mistake or two…
by EdinburghNo1
Dickinson ,Dallas ,and Red card Ross should not be anywhere near our games .
The club should call them out for what they are .
Their bias towards one club is not hidden
The stats shows how many games they have saw them give decisions which assist that club
Until every club calls them out nothing will be done
It’s not just up to Celtic
by Dando
All teams should be officiated to the same standard without exception, this is clearly not the case and a true root and branch clearance is required asap.
HH