Celtic Boss manager Martin O’Neil verbally dismantles Europa officiating in must-watch rant despite 2-2 Draw Vs Bologna

Celtic Boss Martin O’Neil Tears Into Europa Officiating After Hatate Red Card as 10-Man Hoops Squander Lead in 2–2 Draw vs Bologna

Celtic manager Martin O’Neil delivered a furious and widely shared post-match rant after his side were forced to settle for a 2–2 Europa League draw against Bologna, a night defined by controversy, chaos, and a dramatic swing in momentum following Reo Hatate’s second yellow card in the 39th minute.

What made the result even more painful for Celtic supporters was the context. The Hoops were firmly in control before the dismissal, leading 1–0 and playing with confidence, tempo, and authority. Even after being reduced to ten men, Celtic showed remarkable composure and belief, stunning the stadium by scoring again before half-time to take a 0–2 lead into the break.

That resilience, however, was ultimately undone in the second half as Bologna mounted a comeback, using their numerical advantage to grind Celtic down and claw their way back to level terms. By full-time, the Italian side had completed their recovery, leaving Celtic to reflect on what might have been on a night that promised so much.

The flashpoint came just before the interval when Hatate was shown a second yellow card, a decision that sparked immediate outrage among Celtic players, the technical area, and the travelling support. The protests that followed only deepened the chaos, with the referee booking multiple Celtic players for dissent. By the end of the night, Celtic had been shown five yellow cards in total, including Hatate’s two, many of them related to protests rather than fouls.

O’Neil was incandescent after the final whistle. In a must-watch interview, the Celtic boss verbally dismantled the officiating, arguing that the referee’s decisions completely altered the course of the match. He questioned the timing and severity of Hatate’s dismissal, particularly in a high-stakes European fixture, and suggested the wave of yellow cards for protesting was evidence of a referee who had lost control rather than maintained it.

The Celtic manager made it clear he felt his team were punished for emotion while Bologna were allowed to play with greater freedom. His comments struck a chord with supporters who believe Scottish clubs are too often on the wrong end of fine margins in Europe.

From a footballing perspective, Celtic’s performance before the red card had been one of their most assured European displays of the season. The opening goal was the reward for sustained pressure, sharp movement, and confident pressing. Even after Hatate’s sending-off, Celtic refused to retreat into survival mode, pushing forward to score again before half-time in what many fans described as a moment of pure defiance.

That second goal briefly silenced the home crowd and underlined the sense that Celtic were being robbed of something special. But the second half told a different story. Bologna emerged with renewed intensity, pinning Celtic back, stretching the ten men across the pitch, and eventually finding the equaliser that swung momentum decisively in their favour.

As fatigue set in, Celtic were forced deeper and deeper, defending their penalty area under constant pressure. When Bologna completed their comeback, the frustration inside the Celtic camp was palpable.

Fans React Online

Celtic supporters reacted in huge numbers online, with many focusing on how the red card changed the entire dynamic of the match.

@GreenBrigade1888 wrote“We were 1–0 up, cruising, then down to ten men. Still scored again. That tells you everything about how well we played.”

@HoopsCentral posted“0–2 up at half-time with ten men and still end up drawing. That red card killed us.”

@ParkheadRoar added “Five yellow cards, most for protesting. The ref completely lost control after Hatate went.”

Others praised the players’ response after the dismissal.

@LisbonLionJr said “Going 0–2 up with ten men was heroic. The lads gave everything.”

@CelticTactico commented“That first-half performance deserved three points. Bologna didn’t know what hit them.”

Some fans echoed O’Neil’s frustrations about officiating.

@BhoyInEurope wrote“Second yellow at 39 minutes in a Europa game while we’re on top. Brutal decision.”

@EuroHoopsWatch added“If roles were reversed, no way that’s a sending-off. Consistency just wasn’t there.”

Pundits were divided, with some suggesting Hatate must learn to manage risk on a booking, while others agreed the referee’s threshold for cards was far too low given the occasion. What was undeniable was how dramatically the red card reshaped the contest.

As the Europa League group tightens, Celtic remain firmly in the hunt, but this draw will be remembered less for the scoreline and more for the controversy surrounding it. Martin O’Neil’s fiery rant, Hatate’s 39th-minute dismissal, and a night where Celtic led twice only to be denied will linger long in the memory.

For many fans, it felt like a missed opportunity. For others, it was proof that even under adversity, Celtic can still go toe-to-toe with Europe’s best.