The Yorkshire Whistler has kindly volunteered another season of service to Scottish football. And now returned from a well-deserved family holiday, is ready to tackle the first two weeks of the SPFL season.
A calm, rational, professional, verifiably neutral, and socially distant domain expert voice has never been more needed across the bonkers Scottish fitba world. Amidst screaming pundits, social media lunacy, and fan bases damaged by years of Celtic dominance, the soundscape surrounding each game is at the same time a spectacle you cannot take your eyes off but also becoming mind numbingly tedious.
If you catch me out going down single incident rabbit holes, remind me to catch my self on.
Here we’ll stick to the data, and to a neutral expert’s opinion.
Oh, and we have agreed to introduce Heart of Midlothian games on the off chance they once again put together a credible league challenge. They are Scotland’s second-best team after all.
These posts will continue to be free to all.
01/08/26 Aberdeen vs Hearts
Incident 1
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 90th
Score At Time: 0-1
Incident: Mayo scores for Aberdeen
Outcome: Goal to Aberdeen
Evidence:
At 3:02
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Mayo scores for Aberdeen
IOD: Goal for Aberdeen
Free kick delivered to far post, headed back across. Bit of a scramble and there is a shout for a handball as the ball is bundled over. Hard to say what part of the body the ball touched in all honesty and no clear evidence to rule the goal out.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Incident 2
Referee: David Dickinson
Game Minute: 90th
Score At Time: 1-1
Incident: Olusanya goes down in the box under challenge from Findlay
Outcome: Penalty to Aberdeen; Red Card for Findlay
Evidence:
At 3:47
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Olusanya goes down on the box under challenge
IOD: Penalty to Aberdeen and a red card shown to Findlay
Olusanya breaks through in a one on one situation. Findlay makes a stretching challenge from behind, doesn’t make contact with ball but does slightly catch the Aberdeen striker. This is a foul and DOGSO offence.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
09/08/26 The Rangers vs Hibernian
Incident 1
Referee: Don Robertson
Game Minute: 12th
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: Dragojevic challenges Kerr in the box
Outcome: Penalty to Hibernian
Evidence:
At 0:15
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
Dragojevic challenges Kerr in the box
IOD: After VAR review, penalty to Hibs and Dragojevic cautioned
Clear holding offence here. Dragojevic has no interest in finding out where the ball is and has eyes only to block off and hold the Hibs player. This holding offence prevents Kerr from being able to jump and head the ball and a clear offence is committed.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
09/08/26 Hearts vs Dundee Utd
Incident 1
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Game Minute: 12th
Score At Time: 0-0
Incident: McCart goes down in the box
Outcome: Penalty to Hearts
Evidence:
At 0:52
Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:
McCart goes down in the box
IOD: Penalty to Hearts after VAR review
As ball is crossed over McCart and his marker are competing for the same space. As McCart gets in front of his man, he is clearly dragged back from behind and is not allowed to jump and potentially head the ball goalwards. Clear offence committed.
Verdict: CORRECT decision.
Expected Points Outcome: No impact
Summary
My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.
A solid start from the referees with no major issues. That does not, however, stop the vim and piss frothing over all around. It widnae be Scottish fitba, annaw!
There are no impacts from refereeing calls thus far.
After two matches, Celtic leads The Rangers by five points and Hearts by three.
Great to the the YW back again and including hearts is a great addition, although hopefully we won't have to worry about them to much.