Having already overruled erroneous officials on two occasions, yesterday’s Video Assistant Referee could bear no more and declined to confirm the ball struck Joe Newell’s arm before he scored for Hibernian.
Bad though that decision was, it was nothing on the second half incident when a penalty was not awarded to Celtic. Josh Campbell, who was already on a yellow card, shoved Benjamin Nygren off the field with both hands inside the box. It was a stonewall penalty and a similar incident to the foul given against Sebastian Tounekti which led to the Hibs equaliser. Campbell should have received a second yellow, reducing Hibs to 9 men for the second week running.
The VAR team was not prepared to go there. They could do nothing about Celtic’s onside goal. Jamie McGrath’s studs to the shin of Alistair Johnston was equally undeniable. A line was drawn, Celtic were getting no more.
This is how it is going to be between now and the end of the league campaign. I predict Celtic will get a soft penalty in the Scottish Cup Final, “proof” that these things even themselves out. In the league, anything that can be overlooked will be overlooked. You know decisions against Celtic are laughable when even Kris Boyd confirms it.
Celtic dominated the encounter even before the 21st minute red card, but failed to test stand-in keeper Jordan Smith often enough. The return to the starting line-up of Alistair Johnston brought the equaliser. The fullback timed his run and cross perfectly, leaving Daizen Maeda the simplest of tap-ins.
From then until late in the second half, Celtic fans were thinking, “When’s he going to bring on Kelechi?” Our 29-year-old striker is by the length of the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow the most talented player in Scotland, who looks like he is playing against schoolboys. Getting the best out of him over the next three games will determine the outcome of the league.
351 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
Mcgregor is a 10 nothing else, I agree he slows down our attacks to retain possession, yesterday early in the first half he ran over to the right to receive a pass from Yang he then passed it back to Johnston or one of the centre halfs and from there to the goalie, from being 20 yards from their goal the ball ends up with Sinisalo, with Hibs fully in a defensive shape, it was pointless, his instincts now appear totally defensive.
QUADROPHENIAN on 4TH MAY 2026 1:54 PM
TLWIO…
Re squad suffering from a sporting PTSD…
Post Tisdale Sacking Disorder?
Btw; I’d hope Reo brings creativity; his dig is as poor as Balikwisha’s application or appetite.
————
Very good, although I’ll see your ‘Post Tisdale Sacking Disorder’ and raise you with “Pre Tisdale Sacking Disorder”. 😉
We should have been 3 or 4 up at half time terrible finishing and then the over cautious approach and it was 1.1
Hearts will bottle it tonight, aided by Beaton, Dallas and Chris Graham. The crucial game for the remainder of the season will be Sunday’s. Win that and we win the league.
Move along little Timmy, nothing to see here.
We all keep moaning about refs , but it has been the same for decades, and probably will remain so.
Sad thing is, there really is nothing we can do about it. Foreign refs would be good, ain’t gonna happen.
On the match ,I thought Tounekti was not too good, but when he was on the right wing against Falkirk last week he was superb, imo obviously
Reckon Rangers winning today would be best for us, what a thought
KINGLUBO
Flynn, best to you my friend
BhoyJoe
Did you see that Belfast Celtic v Celtic Glasgow photo? ……….I’ll try and dig it out
I clearly recall on here when VAR raised it’s pathetic head, people said that would sort out our problems, aye right, so it has. People forget the obvious, those twats running it are the problem, not so much VAR.
OUr system is the bargain store cheap one ,
EPL is much better, but still has its flaws
kingLUBO
dessybhoy, ironically, I think Iheanacho would have scored a couple in the first half,but as I posted earlier, I think he’s better off the bench ,who knows MON might start him on Sunday……
dessybhoy on 4th May 2026 2:55 pm
Mcgregor is a 10 nothing else, I agree he slows down our attacks to retain possession, yesterday early in the first half he ran over to the right to receive a pass from Yang he then passed it back to Johnston or one of the centre halfs and from there to the goalie, from being 20 yards from their goal the ball ends up with Sinisalo, with Hibs fully in a defensive shape, it was pointless, his instincts now appear totally defensive.
———–‐—————————‐
That’s my big worry. MO’N and Shaun have watched that happening regularly recently and do not seem to have gotten through by coaching that out of CALMAC. As Bada said earlier, Sevco will be all over us in midfield if our personnel, set up and physicality is not what it needs to be.
What to do?🤔. The hun dregs of humanity v the hun dregs of humanity.
AN TEARMANN
The mibs are the mibs & will continue their slanted officiating. C’est la vie in our game.
Nygren’s goals have been invaluable, no doubting that, but that header was schoolboy stuff. I was agog. He gets a (slight) pass due to his goals but he can’t be having brain farts that poor again.
Anywho, it’s past now. Onto another 3 points on Sunday & bury the Thems. 🍀
The smell from that shitehole will probably reach the nether regions of Uranus.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX6g-ASoUwG/?igsh=Mnk3YmJ5aHpsZ3hh
That’s Campbell, who grabbed Daizen by the throat, while on a yellow card BTW
excellent article paul67
Hoping they both draw
Re VAR; without it yesterday Hibs would have retained 11 players on the pitch and Maeda’s goal would have ruled offside. For all the faults associated with it, there are still clear benefits that make it more difficult for officials to influence the outcome of games.
BSR @ 3:11
Yes saw it mate. At the game with my parents as a 2 year old.The two CELTICs.
Yesterday Celtic had 81% of the possession and committed 61% – 11 of the 18 fouls (off side desisions are not included in the foul stats).
So, for the 17 minutes we were not in possession of the ball we committed 61% of the fouls awarded by the referee.
And don’t get me started on VAR.
*decisions
BSF we only need one of them to draw
😀
KINGLUBO on 4th May 2026 3:19 pm
I clearly recall on here when VAR raised it’s pathetic head, people said that would sort out our problems, aye right, so it has.
_____
I wouldn’t fully agree with that. In the absence of VAR our first goal would have been ruled offside. The two blatant decisions which went against us were the result of officials’ dishonesty – not VAR.
VAR has been instrumental in slashing Sevco’s penalties tally to a fraction of what it was in the bygone days of yore.
The ABC factor – Anyone But Celtic – in referees’ dresing rooms must get to the players. Much recent criticism of the team ignores the fact that a ‘fear factor’ plays a part inhibiting performances, including yesterday’s. Celtic played reasonably well in the first half. But until the Kelechi goal anxiety blunted play.
Incidentally, Mark Palmer in the Times applauded the decision to award Newell’s ‘goal’. This is what happens when officials and scribblers share the same cultural prejudices.
BAR obviously. 😒
Can we arrange for shitecastle to be transported to a faraway planet?
BSR obviously ☹️☹️
BIGBHOY on 4TH MAY 2026 2:42 PM
Agree with all of that. It was the only topic of conversation amongst the supporters in Fuengirola during and after the match.
I’m sure I read on here recently that this season alone Rangers have been awarded 15 goals by the Ref which VAR has then overturned. Can you imagine the effect it would have on current placings if we didn’t have VAR.
Very nervous about tonight, not helped by not wanting any of the three possible results.
Who said we needed a more competitive league? I am hating every second of it!
Part of me thinks that the best result for us today is a draw. But another larger part of me just wants Sevco to lose. Meh…..
surely got to be jailed
https://x.com/implausibleblog/status/2051046856642142638?s=20
St Mirren 4 Celtic 0
it was only 16 years ago.
WEEJOE on 4TH MAY 2026 3:52 PM
BSR obviously ☹️☹️
Exactly or both of them to lose 🤣
Stivs
Thanks for the reminder. 😂
I would take a draw for Hearts and a defeat for the hun.
Croftcelt @ 3:42 – you have a point on VAR.
Also our statos have pointed out before the incredible lack of penalties to der hun post VAR compared to previously.
Just because VAR and it’s implementation is largely shite, doesn’t mean it hasn’t leveled the cheating playing field – it has; just not enough.
John Collins has called on the SFA to sack the VAR team on duty at Easter Road today. That consists of Don Robertson and assistant VAR Duncan Nicolson
Is that him banned from Hampden?
2 objectives
I want Celtic to win the league
I do not want Sevco to win the league
If Hearts win today the second objective will be achieved
67ECW
Bada
JC would take them to court.
Rather than John Collins Celtic should be saying this