The most controversial moment of Saturday’s title decider happened late in the game, when Callum Osmand dropped the shoulder and sent Frankie Kent left, before knocking the ball past his right and into the Hearts penalty box. Callum was tackled thigh-high by Kent, stopping the Celtic striker in his tracks.
Referee Don Robertson was not up with play (no criticism intended) and VAR did not intervene. VAR does not intervene when a foul outside the box is committed, unless a red card could be issued. On this occasion, Kent was the last defender and denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. This was a far more clearcut case than the similar issue Auston Trusty was red carded for when Celtic and Hearts last met at Tynecastle.
The referee clearly did not see the foul, VAR should have advised he looked again at the incident, potentially leading to a red card for the Hearts player at a crucial moment in the game. If you attempt to play the ball, miss but bring down your opponent instead, you have committed a foul.
Match officials came under intense pressure following Hearts manager Derek McInnes’ description of a penalty award to Celtic at Motherwell a few days earlier as “Disgusting”. The ref on that occasion was given police protection for his family and an arrest has subsequently been made. This is the environment officials had to work in when deciding whether to refer an incident for an on-field video review.
It sometimes appears players forget that VAR exists. Minutes after that incident, when Celtic took the lead, Hearts ‘keeper Alexander Schwolow protested to the ref that Daizen Maeda had kicked the ball out of his hands at the goal. Not only did this not happen, Daizen was nimble enough to leap over the languid body of the keeper has he dived prostrate before the Japan striker. The players have yet to make physical contact.
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Champions
Aye.
5 in a row.
Champs!!
Champions again!
I have completely forgotten that passage of play you mentioned Paul67, must look it up
Paul67,
Robertson was up with play and immediately signalled no foul, I though it was a foul and red card.
He probably played on as the ball went right through to the keeper.
Still didn’t stop us though 😁
Nonentity Mark McGhee latest addition to the Talksport BS against Celtic
Five in a row
Five in a row.
Just seen the Scotland squad for the World Cup,my goodness is that the best Clarke can select.
Home before the postcards I think.
5 in a row
V in a row
It doesn’t surprise me that ex footballers put the knife into Celtic.
Some people will do anything for money 😡
Five… in a row
Aff oot CSC
Without var we may not be champions due to desperate hun linesmen.
5inarowCSC
Robertson clearly did the rounded hands “he played the ball” signal at that incident.
To be fair to VAR, that could reasonably infer the ref saw it and dealt with it.
Dom Robertson, remember, has history when it comes to seeing things that clearly did not happen.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39646717
At the time it seemed to me young Calum had knocked it too far ahead and lost control of it and each players momentum led to collision.
Who cares? We pumped them when many thought we were all out of pumpability. 😆
Ps; listening to the Hurt and Hunned podcast; they genuinely want a campaign to root out the unseen quadrofenian hand. As TB posted earlier – they’re fugin mentally melted.
Route56 CSC
First time posting since we were crowned champions.
Congratulations to everyone connected to our success but particularly to Martin.
Re the officiating on Saturday, the wee hun linesman (got previous) did exactly the same as no mark Ross did with his flag. Straight up and “assumed” someone was offside.
We don’t often thank VAR but it has certainly helped particularly towards the end of the campaign.
I had thought Osmond just made an arse of it at the time, it wasn’t until I seen it again on twitter that I had released it was a clear red.
A small word of advice for Calum, next time, hit the deck and go absolutely tonto – draw attention. Make it so that the VAR has no option but to take a closer look.
Btw, last night Arsenal kept a man on the pitch with a studs up tackle far higher up the leg than the one we seen from AJ in the derby.
Are we in for ‘Pep’
https://youtu.be/yGnUojcS7AI?si=_e4r6ryWZLhnR1M-
Mcinnes partying with Kilmarnock fans after a full pitch invasion after their playoff win. BBC describing it as brilliant scenes.
THE HYPOCRISY IS BREATHTAKING
An Dún, @12.56,
Agree, not only Calum but every player.
We’re too passive.
HH
You’re Albert kidding me
https://x.com/i/status/2056301500792479913
:-)
ONIL,Glad ye enjoyed our title win,mental ol day all in :-))
HH
Going by wee Saracchi’s involvement in our 2nd goal, he would be awesome in an inverted fullback role.
Going by sarrachis facing up of shankland he’ll also do for me.
Thunder Road
Agree he would be a great signing if he and his Club are willing to do a deal.
Hopefully, we have a few good wordsmiths, within the Celtic community who will pen a suitable response to most of the tosh that has been written/spoken/foamed from the mouth, since Saturday. Best comments on the aftermath, have come from Martin, himself. Pity that we had to give these aresholes an opportunity to grossly exaggerate the situation.
dessybhoy on 19th May 2026 1:29 pm
Going by sarrachis facing up of shankland he’ll also do for me.
Another good reason!
SCOTSLAW on 19TH MAY 2026 1:06 PM
My mind goes back to the 2023 Cup Final when Hart refused to allow the ball to go up to the centre circle until VAR had a look at the push he received just before their goal.
If he doesn’t do that, I think the Huns win that match.
Careful now. Last thing we want is for our players to develop a nasty side like that of our minority fan base this season.
Infighting nearly cost us the title and horrendous consequences.
Togetherness pulled us out of a self made hole, never forget that lesson.
Wee Billy from Alloa,(Hearts fan,),demanding on Radio last night ,Hearts should be awarded the 3 points,and as far as he is concerned,Hearts are the Scottish Champions.There ye are.
Shot down of course,but a great epilogue,
” Alloa,Alloa,we are the Billy Boys”
Good read on the season:-)
https://smry.ai/www.celticway.co.uk/features/26114817.inside-celtics-wildest-title-win-overcoming-drama-33-chaotic-days
HH
This from Alan Morrison (Celtic by Numbers) is worth a wee read, although he shames himself with the repeated Duran Duran references. Deplorable really 😂
The Reflex
Scottish football loses it’s shit as a historically poor Celtic side wins the title. And the cultural reflex kicks in.
Alan Morrison
May 19
“The reflex is a lonely child who’s waiting by the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn’t that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark”
A dramatic and tumultuous Scottish season climaxed at Celtic park with on brand late drama. A goal in the 87th minute from the irrepressible Daizen Maeda effectively clinched the title. No one entered the park.
As Hearts launched long ball after free kick after throw in towards the Celtic box, and their keeper joined the furore, Celtic sealed it with a jail break open net finish for the returning Callum Osmand. Thirty seconds remained on the clock.
Dozens of Celtic fans cavorted onto the park, reflecting celebratory scenes at football grounds up and down the kingdom as titles, promotions, play off spots, relegations are settled. It should not happen, the pitch is for the players and officials only. Some Hearts players were clearly being goaded. That should not happen and those individuals should be ashamed. I am sure video evidence will be being poured over to establish whether there were any actual physical assaults. Any perpetrators should be dealt with by club and police accordingly.
The referee ended it, as is his prerogative.
But once again, it isn’t the thing, it’s the reaction to the thing.
Celtic have undoubtedly benefitted from some positive variance in the final week of the season. A late penalty for handball at Motherwell, another one here, and Hearts being denied a possible penalty also at Motherwell. Hearts conceded their first penalty for 58 matches, a “Rangers-esque” run of jeopardy avoidance.
All part of the normal rhythms of football variance. We have talked about it endlessly.
For most of the season, the variance monster has snuggled up to Hearts, reassuring whispers in the ear that they are the only ones – the one true love. Variance monsters have a nasty habit of being capricious bastards, and as the title moved into view, ran cackling down the Gorgie Road having ripped Hearts heart out. Football can be really shit.
The refereeing became the thing. Open declarations of cheating and conspiracy from many Scottish football folk who really should know better. From people who, when confronted with genuine conspiracy around 2012, looked the other way.
Since the enforced removal of Crawford Allan, under the watchful gaze of Willie Vision, Scottish football refereeing has settled into a cadence of muck spreading for all. All teams get impacted more or less equally by the poor quality of officiating. Those who previously were protected now feel victimised. Good.
After this match, a national reflex of hatred towards the club formed by Irish immigrants is palpable. Letters to FIFA, indignant editorials, plumped up MPs, calls for matches to be replayed or declared null, jumping on the club as “the most hated in the world”.
Always believe people when they reveal themselves and keep plenty of receipts from this period. The Scottish footballing world has not been knocked out of kilter so much since 2012 and the death of Rangers. That was also a moment where true feelings were laid bear.
Ultimately, this was the one Celtic were not supposed to win, but did, and that smarts. For some, it is the crushing of a footballing fairy tale. For others, the restoration of might and wealth after 40 years of perceived duopoly. I get all that, and we all love footballing underdog stories.
But for many in Scotland, the reflex is to lash out at those that should be at the back of the bus, you uppity Fenian bastards.
Don’t let it spoil the celebrations. It’s Glorious. It’s Notorious. Let’s dance on the sand.
All seating has created entitled erchies…..
No JUNGLE = No Realism
Trusty wanted Nancy bhoy to succeed because of the color of his skin.
Is that not racism?
Is it racism to say that John Barnes and Wilfreid Nancy were utter guff as managers?
They are both lucky they never managed in front of the racist JUNGLE.
Mark McGhee is correct. All seated fans are entitled, spoiled, racist, virtue signaling erchies.
Every accusation is a confession in the era of dimmery.
Wicked webs and stuff.
Sad are the homes of the entitled, spoiled, racist, virtue signaling erchies…..
FF
Petition on corrupt Scottish Referees,has reached under 13,000.
” C,Mon get this signed.If we can get this out to the wider world,everyone will know.Government will have to take notice”
Some reasonably sensible soul,told them last night,”This will go nowhere.Simple reason,where is your proof.You have none”.
Not having that,they want to expose all the corruption.ThSFA,SPFL,Referees.
From 2012 till now ?.
I knew Kev J would be on defending one of his older heroes,” Big Mark Mc Ghee”
Loyalty points Kev.
Good read from Alex Gordon on CQN magazine
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/alexs-angle-flawed-diamonds-and-seasons-bleatings/