Bringing the review of the big calls up to date (18th December 2025).
03/12/25 Celtic vs Dundee
Incident 1
Referee: Dan Nicholson
Game Minute: 70th
Score At Time: 1-0
Incident: Maeda challenges McCracken
Outcome: Foul to Dundee
Evidence: Provided
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Maeda challenges McCracken
IOD: Free kick to Dundee
As the keeper goes to clear the ball from outside his box, Maeda challenges from the side. The keeper steps out and across to shield the ball and goes down. For me, the contact is minimal, and the decision feels a little soft as McCracken initiates the contact.
However, as Maeda doesn’t make contact with the ball at all, you might say this is a ‘safe’ defensive free kick and not clearly wrong.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
03/12/25 Dundee United vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 80th
Score At Time: 2-1
Incident: Ball hits Fernandez in the box
Outcome: No decision
Evidence: Dundee United 2-2 Rangers | HIGHLIGHTS | William Hill Premiership At 3:20
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Ball hits Fernandez in the box
IOD: No decision
As a throw-in is delivered into the box, the ball bounces up and appears to accidentally catch the Rangers’ man on the lower right arm as he jumps to block the ball. His arm is slightly extended but he is in the process of bringing his arm back into his body as the contact is made with the ball. This motion, coupled with close proximity and limited reaction time, makes me feel that no offence has been committed here.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 2
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 90th
Score At Time: 2-1
Incident: Moore goes down in the box
Outcome: Penalty to TRFC
Evidence:
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Moore goes down in the box
IOD: Penalty to Rangers
A ball is half headed away by a Dundee defender, and Moore, the Ranger striker, just looks to make contact with the Ball before the approaching Dundee defender.
At full speed this looks a routine foul as the left leg of the Dundee player appears to catch Moore on the thigh. However upon watching the slow motion footage, the contact made on Moore appears to be minimal. On balance, I can see why the decision is not overturned, as the Dundee player makes an attempt but makes no contact on the ball. Not an obvious error by the onfield referee but a soft foul nonetheless.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
06/12/25 Kilmarnock vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 49th
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Diomande and Watson clash off the ball
Outcome: No decision
Evidence:
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Diomande and Watson clash off the ball
IOD: No decision
As the Kilmarnock player Watson tries to run into the box, Diomande appears to have a tug on his shirt and Watson and drops to the floor.
For me this is a clear and impactful shirt pull and although the pull begins outside the box, in my opinion it continues into the box and should therefore have been adjudged a foul and a penalty kick.
Verdict: INCORRECT decision. Foul and a penalty kick the expected outcome.
Expected Points Outcome: +0.54 xPts for TRFC
Incident 2
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 77th
Score At Time: 0-2
Incident: Butland challenges Anderson
Outcome: No decision
Evidence:
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Butland challenges Anderson
IOD: No decision
As the Kilmarnock striker runs through on goal, Butland, the Rangers keeper, comes flying out his box and slides in with his feet. At full speed, he appears to win the ball in a robust challenge.
Upon watching the slow-motion replay, it looks like Butland’s right knee makes contact with the ball, as simultaneously, his left leg catches the striker.
Clearly, this is a committed challenge, and my gut feeling is to give the benefit of the doubt to Butland as the ball is there to be played and he does play the ball and man at the same time.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 3
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 85th
Score At Time: 0-3
Incident: Moore scores for TRFC
Outcome: Free kick to Kilmarnock for a foul in build-up
Evidence:
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Moore scores for Rangers
IOD: Free kick to Kilmarnock
Moore finishes off a move for Rangers, but there appears to be a foul in the buildup involving Fernandez. As the Rangers man plays the ball to his team mate, the Kilmarnock player runs in front of Fernandez, and there appears to be a minor accidental clash of feet. The Rangers player makes no attempt at all to impede the Kilmarnock player, who for me runs in front of Fernandez, and as such, I don’t believe a foul is committed in the buildup.
Verdict: INCORRECT decision. The goal should have stood.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact due to time and game state
07/12/25 Celtic vs Heart of Midlothian
Incident 1
Referee: Don Robertson
Game Minute: 90th
Score At Time: 1-2
Incident: Maeda clashes with McCart
Outcome: No decision
Evidence:
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Maeda clashes with McCart
IOD: No decision
A Hearts player clears the ball as Maeda arrives to make a challenge. The Celtic man does appear to slightly kick out at his opponent, but this is in more of a petulant manner as opposed to an act of violent conduct. There is no real force or intent behind this action and at worst this should’ve been penalised with a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
Verdict: CORRECT decision to award the foul. Sanction should have been a caution.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Summary
My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.
After a good run, a couple of errors this week. Note that the disallowed Mikey Moore goal at Kilmarnock does not generate any expected points impact, as at 3-0 in the 85th minute, another goal for the away side does not change to projected outcome.
The Rangers have been estimated to have been hampered by 0.91 expected points thus far.
Celtic leads The Rangers by three points after 16 games.
What a load of baloney. Surprise surprise an ex ref backing the refs. Maeda's wasn't a foul and the Fernanzes handball was a penalty