Today’s events at Easter Road has provided the Celtic board with an open goal attack on the SFA to buy goodwill with supporters.
If there is the slightest interest in the good of the club Celtic will be presenting a dossier to Willie Collum tonight and demanding full disclose by 5pm tomorrow. Even though it is a bank holiday. VAR conversations broadcast, unedited.
There is absolutely no excuses for the standard of officiating in the 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road.
All of the major decisions were wrongly called by the officials on the park. David Dickinson certainly got assistance from Douglas Ross and Calum Spence.
Those three were very invested in the match and the outcome. Fortunately the Celtic players managed to overcome the match officials. Just. Only a complete fool would trust the players to be able to maintain that through the three remaining matches.
WILL CELTIC CEO NICHOLSON FINALLY GROW A PAIR?
Michael Nicholson hasn’t said a word in public in 2026. It is believed that he is still traumatised from two interviews with Gerry McCulloch in December.
First up Nicholson was hugging Wilfried Nancy as he stepped out a taxi at Lennoxtown. If only the driver had left the meter running.
Next up, on December 16 Nicholson was back on Celtic TV.
Sharing his sorrow that his hero and mentor was running away as Chairman. Giving his backing for Nancy and revealing that three club employees were assaulted after the League Cup Final defeat from St Mirren. Strangely nothing more has been heard about those incidents.
Since then silent Mike has been back in his favoured mute mode.
When mild mannered John Collins is calling for VAR officials to be sacked you know there is a serious problem.
But serious enough for Nicholson to force action or just brief a few pet journalists that Celtic are deeply unhappy then get back to having his tummy tickled by Willie Collum and Ian Maxwell?
RED CARD AND RED FLAG
Without any obstruction two well paid SFA officials watched Jamie McGrath’s brutal lunge at Alistair Johnston’s lower shin.
One saw nothing, the other thought that it was a red card.
Celtic fans are supposed to be grateful that VAR stepped in to apply the Laws of the Game and send McGrath off.
Douglas Ross, who saw nothing in the McGrath incident later flagged for offside against Daizen Maeda despite being at least three yards behind play. He was in no position to make a decision. Again Celtic fans are supposed to be grateful that a third official can over rule the incompetence of two others.
NEWELL HANDBALL AS HE SCORES AGAINST CELTIC
There was something strange about Joe Newell’s stoppage time equaliser against Celtic.
On the second replay it was clear that he had used his arm to help control the ball. On another showing it became clear that his arm was used twice before scoring.
Don Robertson in the VAR room spent more than two minutes then decided to agree with the on field decision.
There was clear evidence of handball. BBC Scotland and Sky Sports were informed that there wasn’t sufficient evidence for the goal to be over ruled.
There was plenty of evidence to disallow it. Having corrected two decisions in Celtic’s favour Robertson was afraid of making three correct decisions in 45 minutes.
With 45 minutes to play he probably felt that Celtic would overcome 10 men and his mistake would be glossed over. Wrong
BEN NYGREN PENALTY INCIDENT
Early in the second half Dickinson’s other assistant, Calum Spence decided to get involved. Do his bit for the team.
As Ben Nygren raced towards the by-line Josh Campbell tried to obstruct him. Realising that he was failing he just used two hands to push over the Celtic midfielder.
Like Ross in the first half Spence didn’t want to know. Dickinson also saw it clearly. In the VAR room Robertson had time to review it and took no action.
Nicholson sat watching it all, giggling away with his mates Brian and Chris. He might even have cracked his favourite ‘penalty to Rangers’ gag.
Celtic’s continued silence is all the encouragement that Collum and the SFA require.
Next Sunday Celtic might not be so strong on the pitch to overcome the incompetence of the SFA officials,
Summary of the officials performance today:
– Dickinson didn’t give the Red initially
– Ross flags offside for our 1st
– Robertson allows Hibs handball goal
– Dickinson doesn’t give pen for 2 handed push on NygrenBut Huns say officials are helping us 🙄 pic.twitter.com/V2MI0xmtKh
— Kevin Barry (@KBG1888) May 3, 2026
4 Comments
by SARAH
Martin stayed silent, so why should board say anything? Blame Martin for his inexplicable lack of comment
by B Radley
Of course they won’t, they want the Rangers to do well.
by Stevie
As per usual the Celtic board will say nothing.
Gaurenteed.
by Martin Kennea
Martin should have highlighted these 4 incidents . No excuses .