Honest Mistakes 25/26 - Week Two

Collum's crusaders: you have to hand it to them

A bit more tasty in week two. The Yorkshire Whistler assesses the key match-changing incidents from the second instalment of SPFL action.

09/08/25 The Rangers vs Dundee

Incident 1

Referee: Don Robertson

Game Minute: 59^th

Score At Time: 0-1

Incident: Djiga challenges Robertson

Outcome: Foul to Dundee and RC to Djiga.

Evidence: Rangers 1-1 Dundee | Late Penalty Rescues A Point For 10-Man Rangers! | William Hill Premiership

At 1:37

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOF: Dundee catch Rangers on a counterattack that sees Robertson appear to be in a one-on-one situation. The Rangers defender is behind his man, and his run appears to trip Robertson about 30 yards. Even though Djiga doesn’t clearly make a tackle or lunge, his running stride from behind clearly trips Robertson and a foul is committed.

Now the referee has to decide whether this is the stopping of a promising attack (yellow card offence) or denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity aka DOGSO (red card offence)

Given that Robertson position is very central, he will be in clear control of the ball and will be in an evident one one-on-one scoring position, this suggests a DOGSO has occurred.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Incident 2

Referee: Don Robertson

Game Minute: 90^th

Score At Time: 0-1

Incident: Gassama goes over in the box under challenge from Wright

Outcome: Penalty to TRFC .

Evidence: Rangers 1-1 Dundee | Late Penalty Rescues A Point For 10-Man Rangers! | William Hill Premiership

At 2:38

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

IOF: Penalty to Rangers

Gassama bursts down the left flank and breaks into the penalty area before there is a coming together with a Dundee defender and a penalty is awarded. This is more a tangle of feet than an obvious tackle by the Dundee man.

Although slightly harsh, I can understand why the penalty is awarded. Gassama has beaten his man and is bearing down on goal. Even though the tangle can’t be avoided, Gassama is impeded by the contact when in a great position, and a penalty kick is the expected outcome.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

10/08/25 Aberdeen vs Celtic

Incident 1

Referee: John Beaton

Game Minute: 30^th

Score At Time: 0-1

Incident: Shinnie falls over in the Aberdeen box and contacts the ball

Outcome: No decision

Evidence: Provided

Yorkshire Whistler Verdict:

Shinnie falls over in his own box

IOF: No decision

As several players compete for the ball near the goal line, a Celtic player slips, which in turn sees the Aberdeen man also lose his balance a moment later, and as he stumbles, his hand catches the ball and he then clears it to a Celtic player who has a good effort on target.

I can imagine this kind of incident can split opinion, as the ball is clearly kept in play by the accidental contact of Shinnie’s hand.

When discussing pre-game instructions with other match officials. I sometimes ask them to consider ‘What does the game expect? ’ In terms of making decisions on the field of play that are unexpected, not credible and have the vast majority of spectators scratching their heads!

Does ‘ the game’ expect a penalty decision in this fast-flowing passage of play? You can rationalise that the accidental handball contact made by Shinnie is justifiable, as he can’t put his hands anywhere else as he falls forward. The Celtic player receives the ball within a brief second of this incident and almost scores from it. On balance, I don’t believe the game expects to see a penalty here, and I feel the on-field referee makes the right call in not awarding a penalty kick in this incident.

Verdict: CORRECT decision

Expected Points Outcome: No impact

Summary

My thanks, as always, to the Yorkshire Whistler.

Willie Collum’s crusaders are off to a flyer.

No errors this week, so no side has yet been advantaged/disadvantaged.

Celtic leads by four points after two games.