‘Never’: Kevin Clancy’s Celtic Hampden Howler Ridiculed

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.