“A HUGE MISTAKE TO ALLOW HIM PLAY” WILFRED NANCY TELL ONE CELTIC STAR HIS CAREER IS GONE AND WILL NEVER PLAY AGAIN UNDER HIM AFTER WHAT HE DID VS ST. MIRREN

Celtic’s humiliating 3–1 defeat to St. Mirren has triggered one of the most explosive fallouts of the season, with manager Wilfred Nancy reportedly delivering a brutal verdict on one of his own players in the aftermath of the loss. What began as a shock result on the pitch has rapidly escalated into a full blown internal crisis, with winger Sebastian Tounekti emerging as the central figure in a storm of anger, blame and uncertainty.

The match itself could hardly have started worse for Celtic. Marcus Fraser opened the scoring just two minutes in, punishing a lack of organisation at the back and immediately putting the Hoops on the defensive. The early setback rattled Celtic, but they gradually regained control and were rewarded in the 23rd minute when Reo Hatate found the net, restoring parity and briefly calming nerves among players and supporters alike.

At that stage, Celtic appeared poised to take control. Possession swung in their favour, chances began to appear, and the expectation was that their superior quality would eventually overwhelm St. Mirren. However, that assumption proved costly.

The second half exposed everything that is currently wrong with Celtic.

St. Mirren remained disciplined, aggressive and ruthless, while Celtic became increasingly careless. The turning point came in the 64th minute when Jonah Ayunga restored St. Mirren’s lead, capitalising on defensive uncertainty and poor marking. Celtic never recovered. Just twelve minutes later, Ayunga struck again in the 76th minute, sealing a famous 3–1 victory and sending St. Mirren supporters into raptures.

For Celtic, it was a result that went far beyond losing a match. It represented a collapse in composure, confidence and leadership and it sparked furious reactions from supporters almost immediately after the final whistle.

While several players were criticised, including Auston Trusty and Anthony Ralston, the most intense backlash was reserved for Sebastian Tounekti. Fans pointed to a crucial missed opportunity during a key spell in the second half, a moment many believe could have changed the course of the game. Instead, Celtic failed to capitalise and St. Mirren punished them moments later.

Across social media, the phrase “a huge mistake to allow him play” became a rallying cry for angry supporters. Tounekti’s decision making, movement and overall impact were heavily scrutinised, with many questioning why he was selected for such a high pressure fixture. What might have been just another disappointing performance quickly escalated into something far more serious.

According to reports emerging from inside the club, Wilfred Nancy was livid after the match and made his feelings unmistakably clear. The Celtic boss is said to have singled out Tounekti, informing him that his performance crossed a line and that he will never play again under Nancy. The message, as reported, was blunt and uncompromising. Tounekti’s Celtic career under this manager is effectively over.

If true, it marks one of the harshest decisions of Nancy’s tenure so far. Managers often defend their players publicly while dealing with issues privately, but this episode suggests Nancy felt the need to draw a firm line both as a response to the defeat and as a warning to the rest of the squad.

Nancy himself is now under growing pressure. Brought in to impose authority and rebuild confidence, the manager is instead facing criticism over tactics, selections and man management. Sunday’s loss was not an isolated incident but part of a worrying pattern that has left Celtic supporters increasingly frustrated.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Celtic’s failings against St. Mirren were collective rather than individual. Defensive lapses, poor game management and a lack of urgency were evident throughout the team. Yet Tounekti’s missed chance and subsequent performance have turned him into the symbol of a broader collapse, fair or not.

For St. Mirren, the narrative could not be more different. Fraser’s early strike set the tone, Ayunga’s clinical finishing delivered the decisive blows, and their organisation and belief never wavered. They took their chances, absorbed pressure and fully deserved their victory. It was a reminder of how focus and efficiency can dismantle even the biggest clubs.

For Celtic, the repercussions may linger far longer than the defeat itself. Questions now surround squad harmony, dressing room morale and the future of players on the fringes. Tounekti’s situation in particular will be closely watched, whether he is frozen out, loaned or moved on entirely.

What is certain is that this match has become a defining moment. The headline may focus on one player and one furious verdict, but the deeper issue is a club struggling to meet its own standards. Celtic are at a crossroads, and how Wilfred Nancy handles the fallout from this defeat may determine whether this setback becomes a turning point or the beginning of a much darker chapter at Parkhead.