MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND - MAY 13: Celtic's Auston Trusty celebrates with fans after Kelechi Iheanacho scores a penalty to make it 3-2 during a William Hill Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park, on May 13, 2026, in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Sometimes there are no words. Then again, sometimes there are, and a lot of words have already been spoken about last night.
As a Celtic fan, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in many, many years. What I find amazing now is that I have to sit here and listen to all the people who have spent years telling us that officiating in Scotland is straight, that there are no conspiracies and that there are no problems with officials, now lining up to tell us how corrupt it all is.
Celtic are headed for the final game. We are headed for the final game, and I do not see past us now for winning this title. We have shown the right mental fortitude. We have shown the right resilience. We have shown the right determination. We have got ourselves into a superb position.
Whatever is getting thrown at us in the media and elsewhere, too bad.
People are not happy? So what? Celtic fans are happy.
I am tired of the narrative nonsense already. I am not going to accept their version of these events, because I predicted this was the way it was going to go. I predicted that Celtic would be cast in the role of the villains. That we would be put in the role of the bad guys.
Except for Hibs fans, nobody in this country wants us to win this. Nobody. There is no incentive whatsoever for the game in Scotland to want Celtic winning this title.
Hibs fans had a good night last night, just the same as we did. They got to celebrate just as we did. We were the only people who did, and for the rest of the game, I could not give a fig because it does not care about us.
It is not just that they do not want us to win it this year. They never want us to win it, but their joy at Hearts being in it is off the scale.
Do not let anyone kid you that there are neutrals in this. Even the so-called neutrals want to see Hearts win, and many of them freely admit it, which means they are no longer neutrals.
I am sick and tired of the narrative already being pushed, and I know it is only going to get worse. I know it is only going to get more ridiculous as we carry on.
There is talk, because we are the big club, that we will not be allowed to fail.
I could write a whole book on that subject. Instead, I will limit it to a couple of articles later on. But the idea is so obviously dumb that it barely needs saying. If Scottish football really is built on the notion that Celtic have been too successful for too long and that this is harming the game, then everything you would expect to happen in that scenario appears to contradict what we are now being told is actually going on.
This is worse with commentators south of the border, people who do not give a damn about Scottish football 95 per cent of the time and who are only taking an interest in it this year because they think there might be a shock.
When they are told that the situation up here is intolerable or somehow corrupt, they believe it because they have no other frame of reference.
You know what? If the whole of Scotland, the whole of England, and I do not care if the whole of Europe, is suddenly watching Scottish football and Scottish football officiating, then good. Bring it on. It is about time.
We have been trying to interest the rest of Europe in what goes on in this country, and what this country permits, for eons now. Let other people take a look. Let other people see how mad it is. Let them say so.
I am not in the least bit afraid of that.
Our club should not be in the least bit afraid of that.
If they think there is something bent up here, let them say so. I hope they make good on it. I hope they do not stop with talk. I hope they demand to see some action. I hope the rest of football gets involved.
But they will not, because it will take them five minutes to realise that this is the last thing people here actually want. The can of worms is not supposed to be opened.
The more these people bang on about all the things that are wrong in Scottish football, and all the things that are bent and broken, the more chance there is of someone taking a proper look. I can tell you right now, nobody up here wants that. Nobody but us.
Isn’t that ironic?
In the absence of anyone taking a proper look, which nobody really wants to do, there will just be the story. The narrative will be that Celtic somehow get benefits we should not get, that we get breaks no other club would get, that we are incredibly lucky, and that Scottish football is run by us if you believe the allegations.
They will suggest this title has somehow been won unfairly. Fine.
You know what? I do not want to fight these people, because I genuinely do not care what they think. If they are too ignorant to do their homework and find out what actually goes on up here, then too bad. They can believe what they want.
They can cry and scream and moan as much as they like. In the end, if Celtic’s name is on the title, no one can take it away from us.
I said we were going to be cast in the role of the bad guys. I said we were going to be the spoilers. We were going to be the party poopers. We were going to be the people who snatched the fairy tale out from under everyone else. So be it.
But you do not get to where Celtic have got this season without having some stones. You do not get here without having guts and a will to win that is off the charts. This is a never-say-die football club.
Whatever controversy they want to dream up, they will not be able to take it away from us once it is in our hands. All that will be left will be the wailing and moaning. Whether that is based on ignorance or on their own negative perceptions of Celtic, it will not occasion anything other than laughter from me.
These people are a joke. Their criticisms are a joke. Their conspiracy theories are a joke, especially after years of telling anyone who suggested that refereeing in Scotland did not work that they were paranoid.
If I am laughing a little today, that is why.
Celtic are going to the final game. That is the only thing that matters.
Choose The CelticBlog as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
This is the only country where a blatant handball in the box resulting in a penalty being awarded is regarded as controversial due to SFA officials adoption of what we refer to as ‘Goldson’s Law’. We live in a weird netherworld where white is black and black is white.
I started the day correcting a few supposed neutrals wailing social media posts (mostly Aberdeen fans strangely) but stopped because I don’t actually give a Castlemaine XXXX what they think. Let them greet and howl. By the time the FA Cup Final kicks off on Saturday they’ll be in a dark, hellish world of pain they created themselves and we’ll be in a champagne supernova in the sky.
I think its more white is blue and black is blue
Good will triumph
How surprising that on all the “media” outlets its all ex hearts or huns or fuckers who have no place in Scottish football making comments and the sole Celtic voice is Packie???
The ref and the VAR – both well known huns- saw fit to give a penalty on VAR so enough said.
Will there ever be a balanced view? Nae chance
Some one on a different article said McInnes should be charged by the SPFL as he is basically saying they were cheating. Will this happen? Will it fuck
Somehow we have regained the Ange mantra of we never stop
We didnt last night and while we were very fortunate, ill take it
Now time to rest and be refreshed for Saturday to bring the thunder and stick it up every cunt who doesn’t want us to win.
Our lads need to bust a gut to win- and stop fucking about in defence- get the ball away to fuck. I dont care if its Wimbledon 80s style long balls – just keep it the fuck away from our nets
My 9 yr old was in tears this morning when he heard we had won – he went to bed when it was 2– christ knows why. And I want him to be in tears of absolute joy at 3pm on saturday.
BigStevie, God willing, your son & thousands of others will have those tears of joy this Saturday!
I’ve believed for a while it’s spiritually written in the stars ! HH
The usual suspects and the so called “neutrals” are apoplectic with unbridled rage and its absolutely delicious to hear and witness the outpouring. They’ve finally unmasked themselves and shown just how much they despise us. The commentariat on Sky are nothing short of a disgrace, McInnes exposed what we already knew about him and its became a pile on with the rest. If we win the title which I think we will, the permarage and noise will be deafening. Long may they poison their own wells with their dislike and hatred for us, and feck every last one of them.
Quite a game last night –must have been an all-dayer on Sunday.
We played as if we were half cut — terrible performance / incredible result.
Funny how no-one is mentioning the Schumacker tackle on Maeda.
44 years on and still it is legal for a GK to win the ball by trying to put someone in hospital.
Funny how no-one is mentioning Yang getting his nose burst after a cheeky wee look by the M/well player. Even more concerning that no-one is mentioning the straight leg tackle on Yang before our goal.
Hopefully there was no party last night.
As for Hertz — we owe them quite a lot.
Phasers set to malky …
Penalty incident.
The primary offence was the elbow to Trusty’s head.
The secondary offence was the handball — using his hand to generate arm swing so that he can attempt to decapitate Trusty and so leaving it in front of his head to hit the ball with volleyball dynamics.
Watch the reaction of his hand after it hits the ball.
Unfortunately, our great former captain, Scott Brown, stated that the tackle on Yang was a great one on BBC Sportscene last night. Looked more like a potential leg breaker.
Brown is just a Salt’n Sauce attention seeker at “heart”.
Not a big fan to be honest.
Captain when the Awkward squad took the huff with Deila over chips.
Captain when al fresco kebab eating was taking its toll.
Captain when Lennon couldn’t run training during CoViD.
He needed to step up but he never did.
All just t-shirts in winter.
Couldn’t lead a horse to water in Europe.
I hope he he has a long career in the game as long as it is nowhere near Parkhead.
Justin Fashanu must be the heading coach at Motherwell.
The 80’s were like that — after the Flying Pickets it was the Flying elbows.
Disgusting elbow to the head of Trusty during the penalty incident.
But never mentioned.
You’re thinking of his brother John Fashanu, aka “Fash the Bash”. He used to practice kickboxing moves in the centre circle before matches rather than do traditional ‘warm up’ routines. The late Justin Fashanu was regarded as an altogether more gentle soul.
Thanks — can remember them both.
Grey moment — got their names mixed up.
Wimbledon brought out the worst in people.
Radio Scotland’s, supposed morning news programme has been a Hearts’ love-in for weeks now with Martin Geissler cheer leader in chief leading the way. For an alleged neutral programme it has been nothing short of disgraceful and totally disrespectful to those who are not hoping that Hearts become champions. That may be a minority, but the BBC is supposed to be respectful of minorities and operate in an impartial manner.
Lineker should know he needs to be careful what he posts by now, fookin’ clown.
I was sick of the narrative by about 10:15 last night. Facts are simple: there was a penalty; Ienacheo scored it. I saw it with my own eyes so what’s all the ‘that wasn’t a penalty’ about? There fookin’ was a penalty and we scored it and we are down to the last game. Bring it home, Bhoys!
*Iheanacho (my apologies, match winner)
I don’t normally give a flying f**k what the village idiot has to say but last night I think he crossed the line as a neutral commentator, even saying that Celtic got a decision in their favour when the wee huns played Motherwell, yet nobody called him out on it. Absolute disgrace of a man. As for Mcinnes, he’s now the Scottish Kevin Keegan. I’d love it if we win this I really will lololololol. As for the Monkeys, sitting third, heading for another record, could be wrong but I don;t think any team has ever lost all 5 games after the split, and we’re still causing them to have meltdowns. Been absolutely s***e for a lot of this season but this will be the sweetest of them all. Roll on Saturday, win by 3 and make last nights penalty an irrelevance. HH
James, great read and I am glad you got that of your chest.
Nobody seems to be asking why the Motherwell player threw his hand into the air before the ball came anywhere near him. He put his hand in an unnatural position. So I cannot see ehy there is any moaning.
Also James would like your thoughts on why Rohl went to speak to the onion brats after last nights game. Looked like they have lots of control on what happens over there!
They tried and tried and tried and tried to put day after day after day of pressure on Beaton and Dallas after our Glasgow Derby win and it ultimately fuckin failed…
It certainly worked at the goalie on Daizen incident but it never with the stonewall elbow penalty incident…
It’ll be utterly ramped up 100 times today and tomorrow and Saturday morning…
Will Collum give us Robertson who is far too lenient and will let Hearts maim with impunity or will he really take our title away by giving the match to Dickinson…
One thing’s for sure – Play like we did last night and Hearts play the way they did v Falkirk and cheats with whistles flags and monitors won’t even matter – We’ll be best on the park…
You have given yourselves (and us) a lifeline Celtic – Summon the energy on Saturday one more time – Just one more time – Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze !!!!
Clachnacuddin and the Hoops @ 11.51am
EDIT * – (Second last paragraph) – “We’ll be beat on the park”
Morning BHOYS.
John Robertson, spewin
Derek mcinnes, spewin.
Kris boyydd , spewin
I bet every bastard on Clyde SSB are spewing too.
I am gonna sit in peace listening to all the hun bastards calling in to that show
Every hun bastard, spewin
I have never been as happy as I was last night , never say die.
Roll on saturday , come on Bhoys , we will do this, then get the double next week
Coybig, hail hail
Brilliant post Mr Magoo
Also meant to add,
agents Beaton and Dallas must have been sick and tired of being called cheats
Correct decision by var to call him to the screen
Correct decision to award penalty.
The meltdown is absolutely glorious !
The comments of Robertson, Hartley, Boyd, McInnes & McCoist are a disgrace!
We will come onto that later lol, but it is great that us Celtic fans have retained our humility ! HH
Just had a text saying it’s Robertson as ref on Saturday and Clancy and McDermid on VAR !
The dream team Clach lol
They’ll be going apoleptic about that Gerry !
They deem Robertson and Clancy to be “Fenians of the highest Hibernian Order”
It could be worse I suppose as in Dickinson for sure and say Greg Aitken on VAR !
Can add Gary Lineker to the clown car brigade…and our new manager Askou said it was the worst decision he had ever seen! 🙂
Askou has to be seen to be saying that Mr Mojorisin…
He also spoke out about a PROPER injustice at Liebrox in February as well…
Didn’t know that Linekar had any interest in Scottish Football…
I thought it’d be beneath his type !
Askous maybe exaggerating but Im pretty sure we wouldn’t have been too happy if that was at the other end. Tbf to Lineker he isn’t anti celtic and is calling out a decision he doesn’t agree with.
O’Neil was honest enough or maybe evading the issue by saying he didnt see it because he had the wrong glasses on.
Good article by Mathew Marr regarding the conspiracy theories Clach.
Personally I think it shouldn’t have been given and I think we would have beaten Hearts 3-0 anyway. Didn’t see the other 2 pen issues in Motherwell v Hearts game until all this kicked off and they definitely have cause for complaint in that game but hey we have plenty to moan about too.
James i have a great friend from the East end and meet him every time I’m over for a game and he has a great saying…and i think it’s very appropriate to use it now to all the Celtic knockers out there*** f**k them, fuck them all