Honest Mistakes 2025-26: Week 35

When you set up to fail, horrendous refereeing will follow.

It all got frenzied over the weekend as Celtic travelled to Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian hosted The Rangers.

The Yorkshire Whistler, after the culmination of a tumultuous Sheffield Wednesday season, was happy with the distraction.

03/05/26 Hibernian vs Celtic

Incident 1

Referee: David Dickinson

Game Minute: 19^th

Score At Time: 0-0

Incident: McGrath challenges Johnston

Outcome: Foul to Celtic, YC to McGrath upgraded to RC by VAR

Evidence:

At 0:25

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

McGrath challenges Johnston

IOD: Foul to Celtic. McGrath initially cautioned but upgraded to sending off after VAR review

McGrath slides in late and clearly fouls the Celtic player.

Initially seen by the ref in real time as a reckless challenge, the replay shows that McGraths studs are high and catch the player on inside of his leg above the ankle. This is correctly identified as a tackle with excessive force/endangering player safety.

Verdict: CORRECT decision.

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Incident 2

Referee: David Dickinson

Game Minute: 45^th

Score At Time: 0-1

Incident: Newell scores for Hibs

Outcome: Goal to Hibs

Evidence:

At 3:02

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

Newell scores for Hibs

IOD: Goal awarded

The ball lands to Newell in the box and he scores from a few yards. Surprised this one was allowed to stand, as the ball clearly hits his right arm and then he scores from his next touch. Whilst I agree the handball contact is accidental and natural body shape, the law 12 of the game clearly states it is a handball offence if immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, a goal Is scored, even if accidental.

I can understand this not being seen in real time on pitch but can’t fathom why this was not spotted by VAR.

Verdict: INCORRECT decision - goal should not have stood. Defensive free kick expected outcome.

Expected Points Outcome: Celtic -0.7 xPts

Incident 3

Referee: David Dickinson

Game Minute: 53^rd

Score At Time: 1-1

Incident: Campbell challenges Nygren in the box

Outcome: No decision

Evidence: Provided

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

Campbell and Nygren challenge in box

IOD: Goal kick to Hibs

Campbell attempts to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick under pressure from Nygren. Defenders are allowed to use their body to protect the ball to an extent but as soon as this blocking motion becomes a straight arm push, then a foul is committed in my opinion.

I suspect the reason the referee allowed play to continue was down to the view that blocking motion becomes a push as the Celtic player is crossing the touch line and no longer inside the field of play. I suspect the ref believes as the Celtic was unlikely to have been able to play the ball, then the overall passage of play wasn’t impacted.

However, laws of the game are clear :

“If a careless challenge is committed off the pitch (outside the field of play) while the ball is in play, the match is restarted with a direct free kick or penalty kick on the boundary line (touchline or goal line) nearest to where the offence occurred.”

For me the extension of arms meant a pushing foul had been committed and therefore a penalty was the expected outcome.

Verdict: INCORRECT decision. Penalty kick to Celtic the expected outcome.

Expected Points Outcome: Celtic -0.62 xPts

04/05/26 Heart of Midlothian vs The Rangers

Incident 1

Referee: John Beaton

Game Minute: 84^th

Score At Time: 2-1

Incident: Gassama goes down in the box

Outcome: No decision

Evidence:

At 14:20

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

Gassama goes down in the box

IOD: No decision

As a ball is swung into the Hearts 18 yard box, Gassama goes to ground after some lower leg contact. From the replay shown, it appears to be accidental mutual contact and it doesn’t appear that a clear foul is committed by the Hearts man.

Verdict: CORRECT decision.

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Summary

My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.

Things took a slightly unpalatable turn at Easter Road. David Dickinson (“Digger” to his Ibrox pals) missed the Jamie McGrath red card challenge and only awarded a yellow. Douglas Ross was certain Daizen Maeda was offside for the first goal despite being yards behind the play.

Who would have thought having a fan of The Rangers and a Conservative & Unionist Party leader in control could cause issues in such a game? Shocked, I tell ye!

But it was the lack of support from the VAR room (Don Robertson) that has left the Yorkshire Whistler in a state where he “cannot fathom” some of those decisions. Regular readers will know the Yorkshire Whistler is very measured, professional and empathetic to the referee’s perspective.

It has been a hugely successful season for refereeing under Willie Collum in that in general we have moved from Crawford Allan’s patterns of assistance for one club, to a situation whereby all clubs seem to suffer more or less equally from the low-quality refereeing.

Here’s hoping, with the titles and European places still to be decided, we have not regressed on that front.

The Rangers have been hampered by incorrect calls to the tune of -1.73 expected points, and Celtic -1.32 xPts, a difference of 0.41 xPts.

After 35 matches, Celtic leads by four points.