Nick Walsh absolutely COST Celtic after unseen footage released online shows his clear favouritism for Rangers at Ibrox

Fresh controversy has erupted following Rangers’ dominant 3-0 win over Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox, with new footage circulating online that has Celtic fans convinced referee Nick Walsh showed clear bias towards the home side.

While the scoreline itself told a story of Rangers’ superiority — Dan Neil scoring twice and Kevin Kelsy adding another — many of a Celtic persuasion believe the officials played a major role in the outcome.

The latest clip being shared widely on social media appears to show Rangers defender Dujon Sterling catching Haissem Hassan with his studs on the Achilles during a second-half challenge.

Celtic supporters have branded the challenge a clear red-card offence, arguing that Walsh not only failed to send Sterling off but did not even produce a yellow card. In the same passage of play, they claim, similar or lesser challenges by Celtic players were punished more harshly.

The footage has added fuel to an already angry reaction from the Celtic support, who felt aggrieved by several decisions on the day, most notably a first-half penalty appeal when Olwethu Makhanya appeared to bring down Kasper Høgh. That incident was checked by VAR but not overturned, leaving the Hoops furious.

Now, with the Sterling-Hassan clip gaining traction, the narrative among Celtic fans has shifted firmly towards accusations of favouritism. Many have pointed to Walsh’s overall performance as “weak and one-sided,” claiming the referee repeatedly gave Rangers the benefit of the doubt in 50-50 situations while coming down harder on Celtic players.

One widely shared post accompanying the footage described Walsh’s display as “completely weak and cowardly,” arguing that a red card for the challenge on Hassan would have changed the complexion of the match at a time when Rangers were already in control.

Rangers, of course, will dismiss the claims as typical post-defeat noise. Derek McInnes’s side were by far the better team on the day, controlling the midfield, winning the physical battles, and taking their chances clinically. Neil’s two goals and Kelsy’s strike were deserved rewards for a dominant display in front of a buoyant Ibrox crowd.

However, the release of the unseen angle has ensured the debate will rage on. Celtic’s hierarchy had already expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating in the immediate aftermath of the match, and this latest clip is likely to intensify calls for greater accountability from the SFA’s refereeing department.

Whether the footage constitutes clear evidence of bias remains subjective — as with most Old Firm refereeing controversies — but it has given Celtic supporters fresh ammunition. In their eyes, Nick Walsh didn’t just have a poor game. He actively cost them any chance of staying in the contest.

The two sides meet again next weekend in the Premiership. If the officials thought the scrutiny was intense at Ibrox, it is only going to increase.