There are very few rivalries in world football that can match the sheer scale, ferocity, and deep-seated animosity of Celtic vs Rangers.
You would probably have to travel to Turkey for Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray, or Argentina for the Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate, to find a fixture that matches that sheer scale of chaos.
Consequently, the official tasked with refereeing these fierce fixtures instantly becomes public enemy number one to whichever side feels wronged, as Celtic and Rangers fans will feel they have a long list they can throw at you.
But when the question was put to Kris Boyd on whether Scotland should go down the road of appointing a ‘foreign’ referee to officiate the Glasgow derby, because it has happened in Turkey and Argentina, he was completely against the idea.
“But, for me, I just think it’s a no-go,” said Boyd. “For the integrity of it. You can’t start bringing in other referees.”
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Celtic and Rangers games being officiated by a foreign ref is a ‘no-go’
Back in February 2025, when a certain Jose Mourinho was in charge of Fenerbahçe, things got so tasty that an official from Slovenia needed to be drafted in to officiate the Intercontinental derby.
That serves as a prime example of a major footballing rivalry actively trying to lower the temperature and ease the pressure around a fixture that was rapidly spiralling out of control, both on and off the pitch.
Inevitably, both Celtic and Rangers supporters could point to an endless litany of explosive moments that prove the toxic relationship between the two clubs will never end.
But Boyd, who was on The Warm-Up alongside Steven Naismith and Chris Sutton, noted that both Glasgow clubs feel that referees are ‘against them.’
While those outside of Parkhead and Ibrox think that referees are ‘all for’ Celtic and Rangers.
Boyd asks a question from a fan: “In other countries like Turkey and Argentina, they bring in refs from other countries to referee a derby. Should we do this in Scotland?”
Naismith: “No.”
Boyd: “Correct.”
Naismith: “No, they shouldn’t. I think the integrity of the game in general. We were just talking about youth football. Young players coming through. It’s the same with referees. It’s the same with coaches.
“But I would say that the officiating does need to get better.”
Boyd: “There isn’t another country like Scotland when it comes to officials. Every Celtic fan thinks the referees are against them. Every Rangers fan thinks the referees are against them. And everybody else in the league thinks that they are all for Celtic and Rangers.
“You can’t win, especially in Turkey, I mean, I was there – our referees need to get better. It wasn’t so long ago that we had referees refereeing major competitions.
“Nick Walsh refereed in England. I do think a few of them can make that step up. I just think the pressure that is on our officials every single week. VAR, the level of it and the equipment, isn’t at the level of other countries.
“But, for me, I just think it’s a no-go. For the integrity of it. You can’t start bringing in other referees.”
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