Honest mistakes will intensify as we approach business end of season

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·7 February 2026

Honest mistakes will intensify as we approach business end of season

Honest mistakes will intensify as title race run hots up. The past few months have shown that and there’s only one team that’s going to benefit…

04.02.2026 Rangers v Kilmarnock: Tyreece John-Jules. Photo Willie Vass. IMAGO

They say only two things in life are a certainty, and that is death and taxes. Well when looking at Scottish football you can add another to that list by adding the latest club in blue who call Ibrox home benefiting from the many ‘honest mistakes’ made by the match officials that operate in Scottish football.

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The supporters who follow the Ibrox side even claim that the very same officials have been conspiring against their side, yes I know!! This is in spite of the phrase ‘Penalty The Rangers’ becoming a well known catchphrase in the world of football.

Referee David Dickinson at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Ibrox club have been known for their statements, which they produce on a regular basis to deflect from their own failings. Just like James Tavernier’s precision from the penalty spot, they have perfected the art of producing a statement that hits the target in the sole aim of getting what they want.

Rather ironically they haven’t produced a statement for a while, three months to be exact. That was back at the start of November on the back of a Premier Sports Cup semi final defeat at the hands of Celtic.

Danny Rohl’s men were soundly beaten on the day, only getting to extra time due to a combination of bad Celtic finishing and a generous spot kick award from referee Nick Walsh.

Referee Nick Walsh Celtic v Dundee United, Scottish Premiership, Football, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 10 January 2026. Photo Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock

In the aftermath of the loss, the Ibrox hierarchy opened up the crayons and produced one of those famous deflection statements claiming injustice after finishing the game with ten men, pointing out that Auston Trusty should also have seen red.

That was in spite of benefiting from some dubious officiating which seen them not only awarded a questionable spot kick, but being spared from being reduced to nine men after Derek Cornelius was let off with just a caution for a brutal challenge that could and should have been a red card.

Since that much published cry of fake outrage, the Ibrox club have gone on a decent run, aided in no small part by some over generous decisions going in their favour along the way from their supporters working as match officials.

Referee John Beaton during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden on Sunday 15 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Admittedly Celtic haven’t helped ourselves due to obvious reasons, but it doesn’t help that we are also up against the match officials like David Dickinson and John Beaton to name just two, who are afraid to upset the latest Ibrox club and indeed are desperate to see them succeed. That’s understandable because they are Rangers supporters.

As the title fight intensifies, so will the ‘honest mistakes’ in favour of the blue half of Glasgow. The last few months have more than proved that and we can expect more of the same.

Celtic Director Brian Wilson with CEO Michael Nicholson at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Meanwhile Michael remains muted – not long to the summer when he’s off – and Brian Wilson is too busy gaslighting the Celtic support. Have those four Bhoys he had a dream about come forward yet? No, didn’t think so.

They’d be better fighting for Celtic rather than fighting against the Celtic support.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order