New rule changes will benefit both Celtic and our support | OneFootball

Some new interesting rule changes have came into force for the new upcoming Scottish Premiership campaign, and they are ones that could be of great benefit to both Celtic and the supporters…

18th January 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland: Scottish Cup Football, Auchinleck Talbot versus Celtic; SFA Referees Chief Willie Collum. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Referee chief Willie Collum revealed the changes earlier this week, and it’s a move that will benefit the game from a supporters point of view.

One of the most notable changes involves players who are sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Under the new protocol, if VAR determines that the second caution was awarded incorrectly, the yellow card will be rescinded and the dismissal overturned. Previously, a second yellow card could not be reviewed in the same way, but the new interpretation allows officials to correct what Willie Collum described as a clear error.

11th February 2026; Fir Park, Motherwell, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Motherwell versus Rangers; Referee Steven McLean. 18th January 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland: Scottish Cup Football, Auchinleck Talbot versus Celtic; SFA Referees Chief Willie Collum. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Another change that will be of close interest to the Celtic supporters is the move to implement a five-second limit for a throw-in to be taken. However Collum said that common sense will be applied so teams won’t be punished for taking six or seven seconds.

If however, you’re deliberately taking a long time to take a throw-in, you will be penalised. This could mean the throw-in will go to the opposition side.

8th March 2026; SMISA Stadium, Paisley, Scotland; Scottish Cup Football, St Mirren versus Partick Thistle; Referee David Dickinson. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

From someone who regularly attends Celtic Park, I can state that this is a great move, as it will end the annoying time wasting tactics deployed by just about all sides who visit the home of the Champions in domestic football.

Another move to discourage the scrounge of time wasting is the new law involving players being substituted, which will eliminate players taking their time when they see their number come up, and briskly make way in a bid to run down the clock.

For example, if a player is being subbed, that player has ten seconds to come off the pitch.

1st March 2026; Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Nicolas Raskin of Rangers is yellow carded by Referee John Beaton. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

If they deliberately take longer, 15, 20 seconds or so, then the oncoming player must wait a minute before coming on to the field of play.

if a player receives medical treatment on the pitch for a foul, then that player must leave the field of play for a minute, unless the player from the opposing team who caused the foul is either booked or red-carded.

25th May 2026; SMISA Stadium, Paisley, Scotland; Scottish Championship Playoff Football, St Mirren versus Partick Thistle; Referee Nick Walsh with a yellow card in his hand. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

It’s an interesting move, but one that will benefit sides like Celtic, and will receive a big thumbs up from the supporters who are sick of the repetitive time wasting antics implemented by visiting sides at Celtic Park.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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