 Robertson in 2017 | |||
| Full name | Donald Robertson | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1987 Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2014– | SPFL | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2017– | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Donald Robertson (born 1 January 1987) is a Scottish football referee. He began refereeing in 2011, [1] and has been a FIFA referee since 2017. [2] Before his refereeing career, Robertson was a youth player with Partick Thistle (where his brother Michael also had a short spell), Queen's Park and St. Mirren. [3]
Robertson first began refereeing in 2011. Since then (as of June 2020), he has made 268 refereeing appearances, given 790 yellow cards and 51 red cards. [1]
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers openly criticised Robertson after a match in 2017 when Robertson awarded a penalty against Celtic, stating that "if he makes too many of them (mistakes) he is not going to be a top class referee". [4]
Robertson was chosen to referee the first Qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League in 2019. The game took place on 9 July 2019 in Tallinn, Estonia between local side Nõmme Kalju FC and KF Shkëndija of North Macedonia; Shkëndija won 0–1. [5]
In June 2023 Robertson refereed the Euro 2024 qualification match between Iceland and Slovakia.
In July 2023, Robertson refereed the Uefa Champions League Match between Hamrun Spar and Maccabi Haifa. The same month Robertson also refereed the Europa Conference League match between Apoel Nicosia and Vojvodina.
In August and September 2023, Robertson refereed the Europa Conference League matches between Astana and Partizan, and Zrinjski Mostar and AZ Alkmaar.
In a match between Rangers and Celtic in 2023, Robertson disallowed a goal scored by Rangers striker Kemar Roofe for an apparent infringement in the lead up to the goal, Celtic went on to win the match. The decision was criticised after the match. [6]
In a match between Rangers and Aberdeen in 2024 Robertson sent off Rangers player Dujon Sterling late in the game despite the fact that Robertson was asked to review his decision by VAR. The decision was criticised after the game due to Robertsons lack of consistency. [7] A subsequent independent VAR review of decisions taken during the 2023-24 season decided that Robertson's decision to send off Sterling was incorrect, and the correct decision should have been a yellow card. [8]
In a match between Hearts and Celtic in March 2023 Robertson awarded both Hearts and Celtic penalties in the game. A subsequent independent VAR review of decisions taken during the 2023-24 season decided that both penalties were incorrectly awarded. [9]
In the 2024 Scottish Cup Semi Final between Celtic and Aberdeen, Robertson changed his decision to award Aberdeen a late penalty kick but instead awarded Celtic a free kick. The decision, which effectively meant Celtic won the game, was criticised after the match. [10]
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes revealed that Robertson apologised to him at half time in a match against Celtic for not stopping the game for a foul in the lead up to Celtics opening goal. [11]
In the final league match of the 2023-24 season, Robertson decided not to award Rangers a penalty against Hearts. The decision was criticised after the game with former referee Dermot Gallagher stating "I thought it was a foul and I was surprised this wasn’t referred [for a pitchside review]". [12]
In association football, diving is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by falling to the ground and, often, feigning injury to give the impression that a foul has been committed. Dives are often used to exaggerate the amount of contact made during a challenge. Deciding whether a player has dived is often very subjective and among the most controversial areas of football discussion. Motivations for diving include receiving scoring opportunities via free kicks or penalty kicks or gaining a team advantage by invoking a penalty card for the opposition. Diving may also be referred to as simulation, Schwalbe, staging (Australia) and flopping.
Derek John McInnes is a Scottish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock. He featured prominently for Greenock Morton, Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Dundee United during his playing career. He won two caps for the Scotland national football team while with West Brom.
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Danny Desmond Makkelie is a Dutch professional football referee. Besides refereeing he works as a police inspector in Rotterdam and as a referee coach for the Royal Dutch Football Association. He has been a FIFA listed referee since 2011.
Kevin Clancy is a Scottish football referee who has been on the international list of FIFA referees since January 2012 after attending a course at Specsavers Centre of Refereeing Excellence. Clancy has been refereeing since 2000.
The video assistant referee (VAR) is a match official in association football who assists the referee by reviewing decisions using video footage and providing advice to the referee based on those reviews.
Nicolas Walsh is a Scottish football referee, currently a referee in the SPFL and a FIFA referee.
The 2018–19 Aberdeen F.C. season was Aberdeen's 106th season in the top flight of Scottish football. Aberdeen also competed in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Simon Hooper is an English football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League. His county FA is the Wiltshire Football Association. He was promoted to the Select Group in 2018.
The 2022–23 Aberdeen F.C. season was Aberdeen's 110th season in the top flight of Scottish football and its tenth in the Scottish Premiership. Aberdeen also competed in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
The 2022–23 Scottish League Cup, also known as the Premier Sports Cup / Viaplay Cup (final) for sponsorship reasons, was the 77th season of Scotland's second-most prestigious football knockout competition. Celtic were the defending champions. They retained the title to win the competition for a 21st time.
Robert Jones is an English football referee. He has refereed in the English Football League since 2016 and the Premier League since 2019. He was the referee for the 2016 National League play-off final, the 2018 EFL League One play-off final and the 2020 EFL League One play-off final.
