Honest Mistakes 2025/26 - To 21st January, 2026
A little bit of Digger in your life.
This review of the big calls takes us up to date ahead of the 23rd round of fixtures.
30/12/25 The Rangers vs St Mirren
Incident 1
Referee: Ryan Lee
Game Minute: 73rd
Score At Time: 2-0
Incident: Fernandez blocks cross into the box
Outcome: Penalty to St Mirren for hand ball
Evidence: Rangers 2-1 St. Mirren | HIGHLIGHTS | William Hill Premiership
At 3:30
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Fernandez blocks a cross into the box
IOD: Penalty to St Mirren for handball
As the ball is fired in, Fernandez turns his body away and slightly extends his right arm. The ball appears to be on target until it accidentally strikes his right hand. For me this is a very marginal call. Although his arm is slightly extended it is quite low down and his arms have to be somewhere.
In real time the referee understandably doesn’t see the ball on hand contact. I don’t believe this was a clear and obvious error at the time and would have been satisfied if VAR had not gotten involved. But once they spot the had slightly extended, it is difficult to say this was an incorrect intervention.
Overall a harsh decision, but not wrong.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
03/01/26 Celtic vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: Steven McLean
Game Minute: 4th
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: Engels challenges Fernandez
Outcome: free kick to TRFC
Evidence: Provided
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Engels challenges Fernandez
IOD: Foul to Rangers
As both players jostle for possession for the ball, there appears to be mutual grappling and shirt holding by both players, given it is the Rangers player who is shielding the ball, I can see why the foul goes to Rangers.
However this mutual shirt pulling also knocks both players off balance and as a result, Fernandez right arm swings slightly backwards and his elbow catches Engels in the face.
I don’t believe there was any significant contact or intent to swing an arm at Engels and so feel the right decision was arrived it.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact.
10/01/26 Celtic vs Dundee United
Incident 1
Referee: Nick Walsh
Game Minute: 35th
Score At Time: 2-0
Incident: Araujo challenges Ferry
Outcome: Foul to Dundee Utd and YC to Araujo
Evidence:
At 3:00
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Araujo fouls Ferry
IOD: Foul and Araujo cautioned
The Celtic player slides into a challenge and appears to catch the man rather than ball. It is a committed challenge deemed reckless and so a caution is shown.
I don’t feel this challenge endangers the opponent’s safety or shows excessive force and is a genuine bit late slide to block the ball.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact.
11/01/26 Aberdeen vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 28th
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Fernandez scores for TRFC
Outcome: Goal disallowed for foul on Mitov
Evidence:
At 1:50
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Fernandez scores for Rangers
IOD: Goal disallowed for foul on Mitov
Fernandez and the keeper jump for the same ball and Fernandez rises highest and scores with a header. However on replay you see Fernandezs right arm swings into the outset arms of the goalkeeper and this action clearly impedes the goalkeeper well before his head makes contact with the ball. A foul is committed here.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact.
Incident 2
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 74th
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Gassama goes down in the box under challenge from Shinnie
Outcome: Penalty to TRFC
Evidence:
At 4:49
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Gassama goes down in the box
IOD: Penalty awarded to Rangers
Gassama cuts inside his man from out wide and draws the challenge from a defender. The outstretched and straight leg of defender makes the slightest of glances against Gassama’s shin and he theatrically throws himself to the floor.
I’m not convinced there is any actual contact and if there is, it is the slightest of touches and certainly in no way would make Gassama throw both his legs out here. In my opinion he has made his mind up that he is going to ground before the attempted block is made. Not all contact is a foul and I’m disappointed the referee has not seen this and gone with a penalty when I don’t believe this should have been adjudged as a foul.
Verdict: INCORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: TRFC +0.46 xPts.
Summary
My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.
A relatively controversy free Glasgow Derby in amongst that lot, and we enter the downslope of the season.
One error of note in what has been a season of improving standards, and it is column favourite David Dickinson. You can search for him on the site.
Listening to a TRFC fan podcast this week (I listen to many non-Celtic podcasts), I found out that the Ibrox fans have a nickname for him – he’s known as “Digger”. Digger Dickinson. Cute! He has an affectionate nickname. When will Scottish football modernise? Where there is doubt there is space for people to think the worst.
Meaning a net benefit to Celtic of big calls of 1.03 expected points. After game day 22, Celtic and The Rangers are on the same points.