CONTROVERSY ERUPTS SHEARER DEMANDS JUSTICE, SFA ACCUSED OF TURNING A BLIND EYE
The fallout from Celtic’s 3–1 Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Rangers at Hampden Park shows no sign of slowing down, as former England captain Alan Shearer has reportedly called for UEFA to review the match, accusing the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and the SPFL of “turning a blind eye” to what he described as “clear and repeated inconsistencies” in officiating when Celtic are involved.
The match itself was a fiery affair, with Celtic maintaining their dominance in yet another victory against rangers But while the green-and-white side celebrated at the final whistle, the reaction across Scotland and beyond quickly shifted from the football itself to the decisions that shaped it.
Shearer Steps In
Shearer, speaking to bbc sport, Alan shearer did not hold back.
“I’m not Scottish, I don’t have a side in this,” he began. “But when you see the same type of calls going one way time and again, questions have to be asked. The SPFL needs to answer some questions. You can’t have consistency for some and not for others it’s destroying the integrity of the game.”
The former Newcastle and England striker’s comments have since gone viral, with thousands of fans on social media echoing his sentiment that “the game is gone” if high-profile incidents continue to go unpunished or unreviewed. Shearer is understood to have contacted representatives within UEFA’s refereeing and disciplinary departments, urging them to take a closer look at “the broader pattern” of officiating in Scottish football, not just the Celtic-Rangers rivalry.
The Flashpoints
Controversy erupted midway by major concerns over officiating. Rangers were reduced to ten men when Thelo Aasgård was sent off in the first half for a high challenge. Then, a far more contentious moment arrived when Celtic defender Auston Trusty appeared to kick Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland in the head while he was in control of the ball yet he was shown only a yellow card and the VAR team opted not to intervene.
Rangers lodged an official grievance with the Scottish Football Association (SFA), expressing their “unsatisfied” stance on how match-official decisions were handled. Their statement cited the handling of key incidents as evidence of “legitimate concerns about the consistency of refereeing in Scottish football.” The fallout has stirred debate about officiating standards in Old Firm derbies and marked another chapter in the long-running scrutiny over decision-making in Scotland’s biggest rivalry.
Television replays have since fueled the debate, with pundits and former referees divided over both incidents. Former referee Steve Conroy described the officiating as “perplexing,” adding that “the VAR line seemed to bend when it mattered most.”
For many Rangers supporters, the frustration has reached boiling point. “It’s the same story every time we face them,” one fan fumed online. “Different referee, same protection for Celtic.”
The SFA has yet to issue a formal statement, but sources inside Hampden Park say they are “aware of the comments made by Mr. Shearer” and that “appropriate channels will be followed.” The SPFL, for its part, has declined to comment, referring all officiating matters to the SFA.
Critics, however, claim both organizations have failed to show impartiality when Celtic are involved in key fixtures. Former players, journalists, and fans alike have accused the governing bodies of “institutional bias,” though no formal evidence has ever substantiated such claims. Still, perception often carries as much weight as proof in football, and the optics of the latest match have left many unconvinced by the system’s fairness.
UEFA’s Role
If UEFA were to take interest in the issue, it would mark a rare intervention in domestic officiating affairs. European football’s governing body typically refrains from involving itself unless allegations of corruption, match-fixing, or procedural misconduct arise. However, Shearer’s status and the visibility of his comments have reportedly prompted informal discussions within media circles about whether Scottish football governance should face greater external oversight.
Fan Reaction and Media Storm
Social media erupted within minutes of the final whistle. Hashtags like #CelticBias, #JusticeForRangers, and #ShearerSpeaksTruth began trending across X (formerly Twitter), while Celtic supporters fired back, accusing detractors of “sour grapes” and insisting that their team simply outplayed Rangers.
Meanwhile, journalists in both Glasgow and London described the reaction as one of the most heated post-match backlashes in recent memory. “We’ve seen refereeing controversies before,” said one columnist. “But rarely have we seen someone of Shearer’s stature openly call out an entire football system.”
Inside the Celtic camp, the noise outside has done little to shake their confidence. Interim Manager MARTIN O’NEILL dismissed the accusations, saying, “We won the game because we were better simple as that. People can say what they like; our focus is on lifting another trophy.”
O’Neill words, however, have done little to cool the temperature of the debate. As one Scottish pundit summed it up late Sunday night: “This isn’t just about one match. This is about trust and right now, a lot of people feel that trust has been broken.”
As the dust settles, it remains to be seen whether UEFA will acknowledge Shearer’s call for review or whether the SFA will move to defend its officials more robustly. What is certain is that the conversation around fairness in Scottish football has reignited with full force.
For now, Celtic march on to another final but the shadow of controversy follows closely behind.
