03 Nov 2025 09:17:38
Hi folks,
For a number of years I've argued that the referees in Scotland is such a poor standard, hence so many crazy decisions in old firm games…. In favour both sides.
Now, it's actually quite embarrassing. Thinking back over the last few years the standard has been even worse, I'm also conflicted as to if there is an agenda.
Time and time again, not only in old firm games, decisions are made which are frankly incredible. I included the numerous red card challenges Celtic have made but not been penalised when playing against teams other than us.
Yesterday was another clear example of that.
I counted 13 fouls by Ralston including the hand ball, 8 by Maeda including 3 after his yellow, and let not even debate Trusty kicking the goalkeepers head when the ball is in his arm.
Out red - unintentional but wrekless…. (Which I agree with), so what's is kicking a goalkeeper on the head classed as.
I really find ever want to be this guy moaning about refs…. But genuinely, why does this keep happening?
03 Nov 2025 10:26:06
J1 - I genuinely don't believe that referees set out with the intention to cheat for them and against us, BUT, there's too many decisions now that it can't be written off only as incompetence, and make no mistake, our refs are hugely incompetent, and no amount of technology will cover that up.
For me, the real underlying reason is that for years they have aggressively challenged, coerced and downright intimidated officials into giving them the benefit of the doubt in any 50%/50% situations.
Now I believe that the paradigm has shifted and the benefit of doubt range is much larger. Hence the increase in "mistakes " being retrospectively identified.
The implied threat is 'make a questionable call against us and we'll make your life a misery. We'll call into question your honesty and imply you're a Catholic hating bigot. In some cases, we'll threaten your family and attack your house'
Everything I've said above is available as public record.
Could you do an honest job under those threats?
Now I'm not defending the officials as they are as dishonest and complicit as the perpetrators.
So while we've spent the last few decades maintaining this 'dignified silence' and shooting down claims of conspiracy, we have been nothing more than useful idiots for those applying those intimidation tactics.
WAKEN UP! Challenge every decision against us relentlessly. Solicit the club to do also. Use your power as consumers to influence the club.
If you're not willing to do the above, strap yourselves in for more years of this as its only going one way!
03 Nov 2025 11:01:31
Fantastic post mate, wholeheartedly agree. I don't believe a referee wakes up and thinks "I'm going to help Celtic win"…. However there is something in the background influencing decisions at big point in key games. You only need to look at Nick Walsh. Remember Tanadice and Diomande "slapping someone". VAR called Walsh to the mention and recommended a review because it didn't happen, yet he still sent him off.
Why would he make that decision on his own? Was it the same mindset about Trusty yesterday because if that goes to VAR it's not getting overturned.
Your line " BUT, there's too many decisions now that it can't be written off only as incompetence" is absolutely correct.
03 Nov 2025 11:33:29
When Rangers were on top winning everything Celtic fans conspiracy theories and now Celtic winning everything Rangers fans conspiracy theories which in both cases is utter bs. It's just that the refs are that poor. They really don't get held to account refs get no games for a week when doing something wrong then back to it.
One week on here some fans don't want the game re-ref by var the next week we do ?.
Ref got a few decisions wrong Maeda could have been off Ralston should have been and so should trusty but DC was very lucky to stay on the field as well. His tackle was bad won the ball but the follow through was studs on ankle.
03 Nov 2025 11:52:06
I take your point storm, but give me a reasonable reason as to why this keeps happening. Especially with Nick Walsh.
03 Nov 2025 12:17:52
Great article Athole.
03 Nov 2025 12:23:08
Storm, their are now to many decisions that have gone celtics way that are unexplainable when they play us.
03 Nov 2025 12:35:42
That is the problem Chenks.
03 Nov 2025 12:40:09
When Aasgaard put in that challenge on Ralston every Celtic player threw their arms up in the air and surrounded both Aasgaard and Walsh which made sure the red card was brandished. When Trusty kicked Butland, Maeda kicked Diomande and at Ralston's hand ball our players did not show a similar level of anger.
Regardless of Aasgaard's challenge meriting a red card, that mob are all clued up on how to exert maximum pressure on the referee, where as we're not. Lesson learned for future games.
03 Nov 2025 12:49:53
I have been saying for a few years the referees are biased in their decision making when it comes to Rangers and Celtic. I get the usual conspiracy theorist comments each time I say this.
I don't believe it's a conspiracy or they are out to get us. I believe when they make decisions on the field all the intimidation they have endured over the last 20 years or so has a significant impact on thier decision making.
It's far easier for them to give a decision against us or for them because it is easier for them. They won't be intimidated by Rangers fans, they won't be threatened by Rangers fans. If those decisions go the other way they will be and have been intimidated and threatened by Celtic fans.
Thinking that does not affect thier decision making is just ignorant to how we make decisions. Every decision we make has a large part of bias within it and is a result of our environment. An environment where your life is made harder by giving these decisions against them and for us is undoubtedly affecting thier decision making. That's not cheating or a conspiracy, it's just very basic psychology.
03 Nov 2025 13:00:56
Don't believe in the conspiracy ideas, but I do agree that referees have perhaps subconsciously become affected by the constant tactic of intimidation and questioning from Celtic as to their integrity. Just like the penalty to Rangers narrative that was peddled, even though they were getting more, meant refs were 2nd guessing their decisions.
03 Nov 2025 13:19:14
You can keep wearing your tin foil hats guys but you were the ones saying Celtic were wearing tin foil hats when we were winning and imo it's embarrassing.
03 Nov 2025 13:38:24
The problem with the tin foil argument is numbers Storm. With all the analytics involved in modern football the numbers are there to see. When every metric on referee decisions is looked at it paints a clear picture of referee bias. That's what finally convinced me it was true as I really did not want to believe this.
I am so anti conspiracy it's unreal, I always look for other evidence that could be the cause but have been left with the inevitable conclusion of bias.
I could go down the institutional argument, especially with the VAR appointment of Frank Connor who was also the VAR the last time we met in the competition and a known Celtic fan, but I don't think that's the case. It's just individuals being biased looking after their own personal interests which is something we all do all of the time.