“DANNY RÖHL EXPLODES OVER OLD FIRM OFFICIATING AFTER CELTIC 3-1 RANGERS DEFEAT ‘ABSOLUTE DISGRACE’ CLAIMS ROCK SCOTLAND
DANNY RÖHL EXPLODES OVER OLD FIRM OFFICIATING AFTER CELTIC 3-1 RANGERS DEFEAT ‘ABSOLUTE DISGRACE’ CLAIMS ROCK SCOTLAND
Celtic F.C. delivered a huge statement in the title race after coming from behind to beat Rangers F.C. 3-1 at Celtic Park but the biggest talking point after full-time quickly became the furious reaction from Rangers boss Danny Röhl over several controversial officiating calls that he believes changed the entire Old Firm clash.
The visitors made the perfect start when youngster Mikey Moore stunned the home crowd by firing Rangers ahead inside 10 minutes after a costly Celtic defensive mistake. For a brief moment, it looked like Röhl’s side were ready to derail Celtic’s title hopes and silence Parkhead. However, the momentum shifted when Yang Hyun-jun pulled Celtic level in the 23rd minute before Daizen Maeda completely turned the game on its head with a devastating second-half brace including a sensational overhead kick that sent the stadium into chaos.
Despite the scoreline, Rangers players and supporters were left raging over a number of refereeing decisions throughout the game. Several flashpoints involving penalty appeals, physical challenges, and late bookings dominated social media immediately after the final whistle, with many fans claiming the officials failed to control the heated derby properly.
Speaking after the match, Röhl did not hide his frustration and delivered a brutal verdict in the middle of his post-match press conference.
The German coach said: “I am proud of my players because they fought for everything today, but some decisions were very difficult to understand. In matches like this, small moments decide everything and I believe certain calls went against us especially that Celtic first Goal and a reckless tackle against Mikey Moore.That is hard to accept after such a massive game.”
He stopped short of directly attacking the referee but made it clear he believed Rangers were on the wrong side of key moments that shifted the derby in Celtic’s favour. His comments immediately sparked debate across Scottish football, with supporters from both clubs flooding social media with strong opinions.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, meanwhile, praised his side’s resilience after bouncing back from an early setback. The Hoops manager applauded his players for keeping their composure in one of the most intense fixtures of the season as they moved closer to keeping pressure on league leaders Hearts.
The reaction online was instant and explosive.
@GersLoyal1872 wrote: “That referee should never officiate another Old Firm game again. Shocking decisions all day.”
@RFCBlueArmy posted: “Danny Röhl said what every Rangers fan was thinking. We were robbed.”
@HoopsFaithful replied: “Excuses again. Celtic were simply the better team when it mattered.”
@GlasgowFootballTalk added: “The officiating debate will dominate headlines but Maeda was unreal today.”
@IbroxVoice tweeted: “Röhl has every right to be angry. Some of those calls were unbelievable.”
@ParadiseNoise fired back: “Rangers blaming refs after conceding three goals is hilarious.”
The result leaves Rangers facing serious questions about their title ambitions after another painful defeat in one of the biggest matches of the season. Röhl had previously spoken confidently about his side’s chances heading into the derby and insisted they were ready to challenge Celtic.
Instead, they now leave Parkhead empty-handed while their rivals celebrate a huge win that could prove decisive in the final weeks of the campaign.
For Celtic fans, the afternoon belonged to Maeda, whose stunning brace ensured bragging rights remained in the east end of Glasgow.
For Rangers fans, however, attention remains firmly fixed on the officiating controversy and Röhl’s furious verdict a reaction that has already gone viral across Scottish football.
And as expected in any Old Firm clash, the fallout may last almost as long as the match itself.
