MCGREGOR PUBLICLY DISGRACED POPULAR SCOTLAND LEGEND WHO DESCRIBED CELTIC AS A “TOXIC CLUB” ON NATIONAL TV BEFORE THE CELTIC VS HIBERNIAN GAME
In the aftermath of Celtics hard fought 2 to 1 victory over Hibernian, captain Callum McGregor delivered one of the most blistering post match interviews of his career, publicly dismantling former Rangers/Scotland striker and television pundit Kris Boyd for what he described as “nonsense, provocation, and disrespect” aimed at Celtic before the match.
The tension began hours before kick off when Boyd, appearing on national television as part of the pre match panel, described Celtic as a “toxic club,” insisting the environment around the team was unstable and claiming that dressing room issues were undermining their title ambitions. Boyds comments immediately sparked outrage among Celtic supporters, who flooded social media condemning what they viewed as another example of the pundits long running bias.
But the strongest response came from McGregor himself, whose normally calm manner was nowhere to be seen once the final whistle confirmed Celtic had secured the vital three points.
“He talks nonsense for attention” McGregor unleashes
In a fiery post match interview that has already gone viral, McGregor dismissed Boyds statements as “embarrassing,” accusing the former striker of deliberately stirring tension before a crucial league fixture.
“Im sick of it, to be honest,” McGregor began, his voice steady but his frustration clear.
“He sits in a studio talking absolute nonsense, calling this club toxic when he has no idea what goes on here. He is not in the training ground, he is not in the dressing room, and he certainly does not speak for any of the players.”
McGregor continued by urging pundits to show “basic respect” when discussing clubs and players in public, particularly during high pressure phases of the season.
“These boys give everything every single day. To call the club toxic is just disrespect. It is cheap talk for headlines, and we are not having it.”
Interim Manager O’Neill praised his captain for his leadership both on and off the pitch, subtly supporting McGregors stance while avoiding direct engagement with Boyds remarks.
“Callum leads by example,” Rodgers said. “He handles himself brilliantly and always defends this club with class. Tonight he let his football do the talking and said what he felt needed to be said.”
The Celtic dressing room, according to club insiders, had been “fired up” by the pre match commentary, using Boyds remarks as added motivation before stepping onto the pitch.
Boyd under fire again
Kris Boyd is no stranger to controversy, particularly when it comes to Celtic. The former Rangers forward has built a reputation as one of Scottish footballs most outspoken and divisive pundits. However, even by his standards, calling Celtic a toxic club on national television crossed a line for many viewers.
Supporters criticised the broadcaster for allowing such inflammatory comments to go unchallenged, with several fan groups demanding a formal apology. On social media, Boyd was trending within minutes of McGregors interview, with many fans accusing him of deliberately targeting Celtic during a delicate moment in the season.
Boyd has yet to issue a response, though colleagues at the network reportedly described him as surprised by the scale of the reaction and taken aback by McGregors direct attack.
Although the league campaign is far from over, many observers believe this flashpoint could become a defining narrative as Celtic push toward the closing stages. McGregors interview has been praised not only for its passion but also for its defence of his teammates and the clubs culture.
Football analysts noted that the captains public rebuttal may strengthen Celtic internally, reinforcing unity at a crucial point in the season.
As one pundit put it,
“When your captain speaks like that, it sends a message. Nobody outside defines this club. Only the players and the supporters do.”
Celtic now turn their attention to their next league fixture, carrying renewed confidence and a sense of purpose sharpened by the off field drama. Whether Boyd will address McGregors comments in the coming days remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. The Celtic captains words have ignited a debate that will dominate Scottish football conversation for weeks.
And for McGregor, the message was unmistakable.
“If people want to talk about this club,” he said, “they can do it with respect. We will handle the football.”
