The retired whistler took charge of one Glasgow derby at Parkhead but it ended in controversy
18:53, 16 Apr 2026Updated 19:54, 16 Apr 2026
Marc-Antoine Fortune’s goal is ruled out against Rangers(Image: SNS Group 0141 221 3602)
Former whistler Steve Conroy has opened up on refereeing his only Old Firm match as a Celtic fan – where he disallowed a Hoops goal and missed a clear Rangers red card.
The retired official took charge of a Glasgow derby showdown at Parkhead in January 2010 but quickly became embroiled in controversy by disallowing Marc-Antoine Fortune’s early opener. Frenchman Fortune was deemed to have fouled keeper Allan McGregor during an aerial duel before bundling the ball into the back of the net – sparking uproar among the home fans.
Conroy then Kyle Lafferty off the hook on the stroke of half-time as the Gers striker escaped a red card for a wild lunge on defender Andreas Hinkel. Scott McDonald eventually broke the deadlock late on before Lee McCulloch headed a dramatic last-gasp equaliser in a share of the spoils.
Despite facing the wrath of the home support, lifelong Celtic supporter Conroy remains adamant to this today that he was RIGHT to chalk off Fortune’s header. However, he concedes that Walter Smith’s side should’ve been down to ten men after Lafferty’s reckless tackle.
He told the Let Me Be Frank podcast: “No, I’ve never [hidden my affection for Celtic]. I used to pretend that I was a Dumbarton supporter a way back, but people can’t take a joke.
“I got that game because it was unavoidable, they had to give me it. The way things worked out – this is my opinion based on nothing – was perfect for them [the SFA] because they didn’t give me another one after that.
“There was disallowing the Fortune goal. I’ve watched it hundreds of times, and convinced I was right. This is the Celtic supporter. Absolutely convinced I was right.
“He didn’t hurt him. There was nothing in it. But when you watch it, he went to header it, missed it but caught McGregor’s arms. So McGregor’s arms crossed over.
“The goalie can’t catch the ball if you do that to their arms. The same as if you’re running forward and I clip you, you’re going down. It’s a foul. So utterly convinced it was a foul.
Kyle Lafferty escapes with a yellow card(Image: SCOTTISH DAILY RECORD)
“The Lafferty one, no excuses. That was a straight red and I only gave him a yellow.
“It was my first Celtic vs Rangers game. So I was running about daft, I was buzzing. When you see the incident happen, I should never have been in the position I was in. And it was only because I was right behind him. In a normal game, I’d have seen it side on.
“This is getting really personal. Do you know who the fourth official was that game who had a clear unobstructed view? Willie Collum. Clear.”
Conroy revealed he was later called in for a Hampden summit with Hugh Dallas after the powderkeg showdown.
He said: “When I get hauled in by Dallas later in the week, he said that disallowing it [Fortune’s goal] was a matter of opinion. What’s a matter of opinion?
“He said, ‘In this instance, we’re going to go with the opinion of the observer.’ And I got myself into so much trouble – I should know when to shut my mouth.
“But I said to him, ‘Is it not in the laws of the game that it’s the opinion of the referee?’. But he said, ‘We’re not going with that.’
“But taking nothing away from the fact that I missed Lafferty and that was a straight red.