Honest Mistakes 2025/26 - To January 25th 2026

An incident packed match at Tynecastle takes centre stage.

This piece takes us up to end of play on the 25^th January 2026 as regards the big call reviews.

25/01/26 Heart of Midlothian vs Celtic

Incident 1

Referee: Steven McLean

Game Minute: 23^rd

Score At Time: 0-1

Incident: Kabore shoots for goal and goes down in the box

Outcome: No decision

Evidence: Provided

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOD: No decision

As Kabore gets his shot off, the covering defender extends his leg towards the Hearts player in an attempt to block the shot. The challenge is down low, but Kabores follow through sees his leg connect with the Celtic player at knee height.

This for me is not a foul and is just Kabores natural momentum with the swinging leg connecting with the planted leg of his opponent. Expected contact and no foul committed.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Incident 2

Referee: Steven McLean

Game Minute: 54^th

Score At Time: 1-1

Incident: Milne flicks on a header in the box

Outcome: No decision

Evidence:

At 1:35

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOD: No decision

As Milne flicks a header onwards into the penalty area, a Celtic defender with eyes on the ball looks to clear the ball but at the last minute pulls the foot back just as it looks like it might connect with the Hearts player.

There appears to be minimal contact, with Milne already off balance and the header develops into an attack for Hearts. Any contact here is minimal and accidental and I believe the right decision was reached in allowing the passage of play to continue.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Incident 3

Referee: Steven McLean

Game Minute: 63^rd

Score At Time: 1-2

Incident: Leonard and Cvancara clash off the ball

Outcome: Foul to Hearts and YC for Cvancara

Evidence: Provided

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOD: Freeman kick to Hearts and Cvancara cautioned

From a kickoff the two players collide, and it appears the Hearts player just stands still to block the run of the Celtic player who is going to press the ball. Cvancara appears to raise his arms, and the Hearts man goes to ground holding his face. This is an act of frustration by the Celtic player at being blocked. The raise of the arms is petulant and without any real force and certainly not enough to be deemed serious foul play. I’d agree with the caution of unsporting behaviour here.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Incident 4

Referee: Steven McLean

Game Minute: 65^th

Score At Time: 1-2

Incident: Milne and Engels clash off the ball

Outcome: No decision

Evidence: Provided

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOD: No decision

In what appears to be a heated moment of the game, play is stopped with the ball at the feet of Milne. Engels rushes to claim the ball and barges Milne to get the ball, and Milne swings him a right arm to shove Engels back who then drops to the floor.

I believe there is an element of frustration of both players here as Engels charges into his opponent aggressively and the response is equally as aggressive.

I don’t feel there is a deliberate swing of the elbow by Milne here and the arm is not bent at all. I think it is an instinctive reaction to being shoved and do not feel a sending off offence has occurred here. Either a caution a piece here for unsporting behaviour or, as was the case, no action required.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Incident 5

Referee: Steven McLean

Game Minute: 74^th

Score At Time: 1-2

Incident: Trusty and Kabore challenge for the ball

Outcome: Foul to Hearts and RC to Trusty

Evidence:

At 2:57

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOD: Foul to Hearts and Trusty initially cautioned but then upgraded to a red card after VAR review

Trusty impedes Kabore as he looks to break through on goal. The referee feels this is a caution for stopping a promising attack, but VAR feel a review is needed and the red card is ultimately shown.

Proximity to goal, trajectory of run and location of other defenders all need to consider when deciding if a foul is the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity. This incident is certainly borderline as Kabore would have gotten a clear run at goal.

However, he would have been running at an angle slightly away from goal following the path of the ball. This coupled with how far out the foul is and the location of the Celtic right back, makes my gut reaction that it wasn’t an obvious DOGSO. I believe the referee should have stuck with his original SPA decision and that a caution was the expected outcome.

Verdict: INCORRECT decision. Caution for SPA expected outcome.

Expected Points Outcome: Celtic -0.31 xPts

25/01/26 The Rangers vs Dundee

Incident 1

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Game Minute: 46th

Score At Time: 0-0

Incident: Raskin shoots for TRFC

Outcome: Foul to TRFC and penalty

Evidence:

At 1:53

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOD : Penalty awarded to Rangers

As Raskin gets his shot off inside the area, the Dundee defender slides in late and recklessly catches Raskin with the follow through. For me, a clear foul & penalty kick.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Summary

My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.

The top of table clash at Tynecastle provided plenty of controversial moments, and not for the first time, John Beaton on VAR decides to re referee the game from the VAR room. The last time ultimately led to the end of Crawford Allan’s Patterns of Assistance reign.

Otherwise, the referees continue to work to an improved success rate.

The Rangers have been estimated to have been hampered by 0.72 expected points thus far.

The Rangers led Celtic by two points after 23 matches.