“CELTIC CLUB IS SO PATHETIC, YOU CAN’T WIN THEM WHEN THE REFEREE IS ON THEIR SIDE” – Neil McCann Blasts Officials After Heartbreaking Defeat..
Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann did not hold back after his side suffered a shocking 3–2 defeat to Celtic at Rugby Park, placing the blame squarely on the referee and sparking debate across Scottish football.
Kilmarnock had taken the lead through Taiwo John-Jules in the 21st minute, and Josh Hugill doubled the advantage in the 28th. For much of the match, it seemed Kilmarnock were in control, defending resolutely against Celtic’s attacks.
Celtic, however, slowly clawed their way back into the game. Marcelo Saracchi opened the scoring for the visitors in the 56th minute, followed by B. Nygren equalising in the 64th. With Kilmarnock still pushing, the drama intensified when J. Araujo struck in the seventh minute of added time (90+7’), sealing a late victory for Celtic.
McCann, furious with the referee’s decision to add seven minutes, described the outcome as “unacceptable and unfair.”
“Celtic club is so pathetic, you can’t win them when the referee is on their side,” McCann said in a fiery post-match interview. “We defended, we played our hearts out, but one wrong call, one overextended stoppage, and suddenly it’s Celtic’s game. That’s not football. That’s favoritism.”
The Kilmarnock boss went on to call for Scottish FA intervention, arguing that the excessive added time and officiating decisions “completely changed the result and robbed us of a deserved point.”
Fans of both sides have erupted online. Celtic supporters are defending their team’s resilience and late winner, while Kilmarnock followers are echoing McCann’s frustration, saying refereeing decisions are increasingly influencing results in Scottish football.
As the debate continues, McCann’s comments have only fueled the controversy surrounding Celtic’s late comeback, leaving pundits, fans, and officials questioning whether fairness on the pitch is being maintained.