Celtic’s 6-0 demolition of Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden was a lesson to Aberdeen and the rest of the league

However, a baffling refereeing decision has become a hot topic for fans during and after the game. Referee Kevin Clancy booked Celtic captain Callum McGregor within the opening minutes for what most would argue was barely even a foul, let alone deserving of a yellow card.

The semi-final had already seen an unusual start with smoke from pre-match pyrotechnics causing a brief delay due to limited visibility. However, once the match got going, Celtic wasted no time asserting control. Cameron Carter-Vickers opened the scoring, followed quickly by goals from Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda, giving Celtic a comfortable 3-0 lead at half-time. In the second half, Maeda completed his hat-trick, and Nicolas Kühn also grabbed a goal, sealing Celtic’s emphatic passage to the final.

Despite the scoreline, McGregor’s yellow card incident was hard to ignore. With just minutes on the clock, Clancy’s decision to book the Celtic captain for a minimal challenge raised eyebrows and frustration. Even commentator Michael Stewart openly questioned the call and expressing disbelief claiming it was ‘never’ a yellow card.

The early booking forced McGregor to alter his play for the rest of the match, something no team wants for a player of his influence in midfield. McGregor’s role involves breaking up opposition play and setting Celtic’s tempo, yet Clancy’s decision effectively put a leash on his ability to play with his usual assertiveness.

While some may argue that the booking didn’t matter given Celtic’s dominance, many fans feel that’s missing the point. Refereeing decisions like this need scrutiny, especially when made by one of Scotland’s most experienced referees. A questionable booking that limits a team’s captain and midfield lynchpin should not be taken lightly, no matter the final score.

Celtic fans will be delighted to see their team in the final, but Clancy’s decision remains a stark reminder of the issues that persist with officiating consistency in Scottish football.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Clancy I’m sure ge has booked McGregor a few times in Games all in first half just trying to stop Celtic game plan 90 minutes no injury time I’m sure he was sick seeing Cektic play so well even trying to hinder them by booking the ball winner and playmaker

  2. It didn’t work, did it? McGregor was outstanding!
    He was a brilliant general throughout the full game today despite the ridiculous decision to not only call him back for that free kick, but the audacity to also issue a yellow card! I can only assume Clancy was thinking McGregor already had a yellow card in the cup and this was ruling him out of the final.
    I love when we play with the attitude of knowing the ref is corrupted, the VAR monitor is even WORSE, and we just go out and destroy both of their opportunities with a display like this one.

  3. Clancy applying laws as he sees fit… No injury time at the end?! How many subs were made? Didn’t book their fan dan gesturing for a yellow card? Books CalMac for winning the ball against the same fan dan who committed at least 2 fouls by that point?! Job well done Clancy

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