NafisaAfter Rangers’ 3–1 defeat to Celtic, referee Nick Walsh has found himself at the centre of an escalating storm involving furious Rangers fans and growing scrutiny over officiating standards in Scottish football.
The turning point came after his performance in the recent derby against Celtic FC, when Rangers fans accused him of bias and inconsistency and things escalated rapidly.
The match that lit the fuse
In the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup between Rangers and Celtic, held at Hampden Park, the fixture was high tension from the off. Rangers went down to ten men early after a straight red card. On top of that came a flashpoint incident when Celtic’s defender kicked Rangers’ goalkeeper in the head after the keeper had secured the ball but the referee awarded only a yellow card. Rangers argue that the decision was a clear red card offence.
Into that mix was a controversial penalty awarded to Rangers when Celtic’s Anthony Ralston appeared to be falling and was adjudged to handle the ball a decision condemned by former referee Des Roache, who said the call did not meet the “intentional” standard required.
Rangers fans reacted with fury. On fan forums and social-media the consensus was that Walsh is applying one standard to Rangers, another to Celtic. “One rule for one, one for the other. That’s the bit fans are sick of,” said one former player.
Fan and club backlash
The club itself didn’t hold back. Rangers released a strongly-worded statement condemning the level of refereeing and saying the decisions “continue to determine results, impact fans, and affect the livelihoods of players, coaches and staff”.
Supporters are demanding that the board and club confront the Scottish Football Association over what they view as unfair officiating Drained by repeated incidents, the Rangers faithful feel that the only recourse now is for the club to press for change.
The referee’s reaction
Online backlash and a deleted post
In the hours after the match, social media lit up. Rangers fans flooded Walsh’s accounts with criticism and memes, accusing him of costing their club the game. Hashtags like #WalshOut and #SFAcorruption began trending among supporters.
Amid the backlash, Walsh reportedly posted a brief message referencing Rangers FC before deleting it three minutes later. Screenshots of the post spread rapidly online, sparking speculation about his intent. Some fans saw it as a subtle jab at Rangers, while others believed he was attempting to defend himself before thinking better of it.
Regardless, the damage was done. The deleted post only intensified the backlash, with fans calling for him to be suspended or banned from officiating Rangers matches in the future.
Walsh speaks out
A day later, Walsh allegedly responded to the criticism, saying he was considering withdrawing from officiating matches involving both Rangers and Celtic altogether. “Whenever I referee those games, I always get dragged,”
“I’m done taking blame for every Rangers loss. Every decision sparks abuse, every match turns toxic. Maybe it’s time I stop refereeing their games altogether. Enough is enough.”
While the Scottish FA has not confirmed whether Walsh will recuse himself from future Old Firm fixtures, insiders suggest that the level of abuse referees now face online has made it increasingly difficult to assign officials without controversy.
Club and fan reactions
Rangers FC released a statement condemning what they described as “inconsistent officiating that continues to influence results and undermine the integrity of the league.” The club also hinted at raising a formal complaint with the Scottish FA.
Fans have echoed that sentiment, with many arguing that the match exposed deeper flaws in VAR usage and referee accountability. One supporters’ group posted:
“This isn’t about one game. It’s about a pattern. We’ve seen too many calls go one way when it matters most.”
Wider implications
The incident reignites the long-running debate about bias in Scottish football. Referees, who already operate under immense pressure, now face added scrutiny in the age of instant replay and viral outrage. Every decision in an Old Firm match is dissected by fans, pundits, and social media users within seconds.
If Walsh follows through on his suggestion to stop refereeing Rangers or Celtic fixtures, it would be a major development that effectively acknowledges the atmosphere surrounding these games has become toxic even for officials.
What began as a disputed performance in a 3–1 Celtic win has snowballed into a wider crisis about refereeing standards, fan abuse, and institutional trust in Scottish football.
For Nick Walsh, the deleted post and ongoing criticism may mark a turning point in his career. For Rangers, it has become another flashpoint in their ongoing battle for what they see as fairness on the pitch.
As one fan wrote online, “He deleted the post, but he can’t delete what happened on the pitch.”
Nafisa
Mustapha Sheidu