Time to Heal — And Time to Wake Up
As the dust finally begins to settle on our European nightmare, the healing starts today with a return to SPL action at home against Falkirk. In a strange way, the traditional Saturday 3pm kick‑off feels almost comforting — a reminder of normality after a week that has been anything but. Yet even that familiarity is tinged with the realisation that dropping into the Europa League has reshaped our fixture calendar until at least January. There’s no escaping the consequences.
The Europa League draw itself offers a mix of intrigue and opportunity. One of the few redeeming features of the competition is that it tends to throw up new opponents, fresh stadiums, and unfamiliar challenges. We’ve got some favourable home fixtures too, and those should give us a real chance to take maximum points and push into the knockout stages. A top‑eight finish would go some way to easing the anger and frustration that has lingered since the Austrian debacle.
Seeing O’Neill at yesterday’s pre‑match conference was difficult. He looked devastated — eyes reddened, shoulders heavy, carrying the weight of a week that has clearly cut him deeply. The game has changed so much since his first spell as Celtic manager, back in the pre‑smartphone era when criticism didn’t arrive in relentless waves, every minute of every day. Now it’s instantaneous, vicious, and often deeply personal. You could see in his face how much he feels the abuse directed at his players.
Luke McCowan’s situation is a perfect example. Whatever mistakes he made on the pitch, the torrent of online abuse that forced him to delete his Instagram account is indefensible. Fans have every right to criticise performances — that’s part of football — but there is a line that should never be crossed. These are human beings, and O’Neill’s instinct has always been to protect his players. He even took responsibility for the collapse in Austria, absorbing the blame rather than deflecting it. That dignity stands in stark contrast to his counterpart across the city, who accepted responsibility with one breath and publicly tore into his players with the next.
And speaking of lines that should never be crossed, the SFA finally announced the outcome of their investigation into the March Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. The scenes after the penalty shoot‑out were ugly: Celtic fans spilling onto the pitch in jubilation, and a masked group of home ultras responding with aggression. No supporter should enter the playing area — especially not in an environment as volatile as that one — but the home club is responsible for policing, stewarding, and ensuring safety. Their failings allowed the situation to escalate.
Yet both clubs received exactly the same punishment: their next home Scottish Cup match behind closed doors and a £100,000 payment to the opposing side. It’s a severe sanction, and while some will argue it’s overdue, it’s hard to see how identical punishments reflect the reality of what happened. Celtic’s statement expressed shock, and rightly so. The board must respond forcefully — this verdict should not be accepted.
Almost immediately, the Ibrox club announced a paltry 300‑seat allocation for Celtic fans in the upcoming League Cup tie. It’s predictable, petty, and entirely in keeping with their approach. If I were Celtic, I’d refuse the tickets — which is probably exactly what they want us to do.
None of this is what football should be about. These constant off‑field battles drag us down, damage our reputation, and distract from the only thing that truly matters: the game itself. Our board needs to show some backbone, defend the club properly, and find a way to engage with supporters so that matchday behaviour doesn’t become another stick to beat us with.
As for today, we have a chance to reset the narrative. A chance to start the healing process. A chance to go eight points clear of our city rivals and remind ourselves that, despite Tuesday’s disappointment, there is still plenty to look forward to this season.
