Celtic’s 3-2 win over Dundee ended up not being about the officiating but it could well have been after a number of strange decisions from referee Gavin Duncan.
A clear shunt on Giorgos Giakoumakis in the penalty box was the main point of contention for the Bhoys but Duncan’s handling of the game was poor throughout, with Dundee having their own grievances.
It was Duncan’s first Celtic match since 2020, so he’s not someone we see in the middle all too often, thankfully.
Over the next week, much more familiar faces will be taking charge of the action, although your mileage will vary on whether that’s a good thing or not.
Kevin Clancy is the man in the middle at Easter Road this Sunday, assisted by David McGeachie and David Doig on the line with Grant Irvine as the fourth official.
Clancy last took charge of Celtic in a 2-1 win over Aberdeen at Celtic Park in November. The Dons goal came through a penalty after Liel Abada was judged to have tripped David Bates.
Plenty of Celtic fans disagreed with that one, with contact minimal and seemingly initiated by Bates, with Abada trying to pull away from the challenge.
Next Wednesday night at home to St Mirren, it’s Euan Anderson in charge aided by Daniel McFarlane and Jonathan Bell as assistants and Don Robertson between the dugouts.
Anderson was at Celtic Park just last month to oversee a 1-0 Celtic win over Dundee United, with Nir Bitton sent off. The red card was justified for many but the ref did miss a blatant foul on Greg Taylor in the build-up to the second yellow card.
Ultimately we have to hope the quality and strength of the performance from Ange Postecoglou’s team means bizarre decisions from Scotland’s ‘top team’ of refs are redundant.
We know anything can happen, and does, when it comes to the whistle in Scottish football.
In other news, Dundee United release statement after disagreement with Celtic on ticket prices, reduced allocation.
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