Celtic fans have been left fuming at Kris Boyd’s criticism of Nicola Kuhn’s celebrations during their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ross County. The former Rangers player, Boyd, raised eyebrows when he suggested that Kuhn should have been shown a red card for his exuberant leap into the crowd after scoring the winning goal in the 88th minute. Despite already being on a yellow card, Kuhn’s emotional celebration did not result in any further disciplinary action.
Boyd’s interpretation of FIFA’s Law 12, pertaining to player misconduct, was met with widespread disagreement from both Celtic fans and neutral observers alike. During a live broadcast on Sky Sports, Boyd questioned the application of the rules and expressed surprise that Kuhn had not been sent off for his actions. The debate sparked by Boyd’s comments overshadowed what should have been a joyous moment for Celtic supporters, following a thrilling comeback victory orchestrated by Brendan Rodgers’ team.
The tension of the match had been palpable as Celtic found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime after an early goal from Ross County’s Ronan Hale. However, second-half strikes from Alistair Johnston and Kuhn propelled the Hoops to a dramatic win, much to the delight of the travelling fans. Kuhn’s spontaneous celebration, while clearly heartfelt and spontaneous, appeared to irk Boyd, prompting his controversial remarks on the matter.
In the aftermath of Boyd’s comments, Celtic fans, including former player turned pundit Chris Sutton, took to social media to express their frustration and outrage at his take on the situation. Many pointed out the spirit and emotion with which Kuhn had celebrated the crucial winning goal, arguing that it was a moment of pure elation rather than deserving of a red card. As the debate raged on in the days following the match, it became evident that Boyd’s critique had touched a nerve within the Celtic fanbase and would be a topic of heated discussion for some time to come.
