With Willie Collum showing leadership and resisting the baying of the angry mob (disgracefully media-driven) perhaps we have the direction, if not the raw materials, to improve refereeing.
This batch of considerations from the Yorkshire Whistler brings us up to date with matches completed on 9th November 2025.
09/11/25 Dundee vs The Rangers
Incident 1
Referee: Matthew McDermid
Game Minute: 44th
Score At Time: 0-2
Incident: Moore scores for TRFC
Outcome: Goal disallowed for offside
Evidence: Sportscene: Premiership Highlights - 2025/26: Dundee v Rangers - highlights - BBC iPlayer
At 1:02
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
IOD: Goal disallowed for offside
Even though Moore eventually scores, there is an offside consideration just prior to the goal. As the initial shot is parried by the Dundee keeper, Diomande is standing directly in front of the keeper and is in an offside position. He opens his legs and allows the shot through his legs whilst the keeper is unsighted.
Current guidance under Law 11 states it is an offence if a player standing offside ‘makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball’
This is the situation here due to the impact on the keeper and his ability to make the first save.
Verdict: CORRECT decision
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
09/11/25 Celtic vs Kilmarnock
Incident 1
Referee: Don Robertson
Game Minute: 79th
Score At Time: 2-0
Incident: Ralston goes down in the box
Outcome: No decision
Evidence: Provided
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
IOD: No decision
Ralston bursts into the box and the nearest Livingston defender moves across and looks to challenge with his right foot. Upon the replay, it appears the defender clips and plays the ball first before any secondary contact is made with Ralston.
Verdict: CORRECT decision .
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
09/11/25 Celtic vs Kilmarnock
Incident 2
Referee: Don Robertson
Game Minute: 90th
Score At Time: 3-0
Incident: Yang goes down in the box
Outcome: Penalty to Celtic
Evidence: Sportscene: Premiership Highlights - 2025/26: Celtic v Kilmarnock - highlights - BBC iPlayer
At 1:59
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
IOD: Penalty awarded to Celtic
Yang drives into the box on Celtic’s left-hand side and gets the better of his man. All the defender can do as he is caught flat-footed, is clearly pull Yang’s lower right arm from behind and knock him off balance. This pull is sustained and continues inside the box, and so is rightly adjudged a foul and penalty kick.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Summary
My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.
A good period continues for the officials with a low volume of incidents being referred and a very low error rate.
Bravo.
It may be a bit dull, but we need to capture such periods for completeness!
For now, The Rangers have been estimated to have been hampered by 1.45 expected points this far.
Celtic leads The Rangers by five points after 11 games.
The improvement in decision-making continues to amaze.