During the St Mirren game at Celtic Park on Sunday, where Celtic led comfortably with a 3-0 scoreline, an unusual substitution stirred significant unrest among supporters.

As James Forrest readied to join the fray, fans erupted in confusion and concern. The reason being, Celtic had used other five subs but were about to bring on a sixth. We reported straight after the game what had happened, helping to clear up the confusion. However, the snapshot of anxiety inside the stadium was something I’ve never really experienced before.

With only five games remaining this season and Celtic holding a four-point lead over their closest rivals, Rangers—who have a game in hand—the prospect of a penalty for an apparent substitution breach caused palpable panic in the stands.

Misinformation spread rapidly, with some fans in my own area of the ground believing Brendan Rodgers was running the risk of serious penalties. We spoke to one fan behind the goals that said ‘the panic was real’. Reactions ranged from urgent attempts to access information online—hampered by connectivity issues within the stadium—to vocal protests directed at the coaching staff from behind the goals.

The confusion was eventually clarified when it was understood that Celtic’s extra substitution was legally made under football’s concussion protocol, which allows an additional change if a player suffers a significant head injury, ensuring their safety and well-being. This rule also extends the same privilege to the opposing team, preventing any tactical advantage. St Mirren had used a concussion sub during the game.

This scenario illustrates perfectly how everyone is on edge going into the final five games. You just have to look at the reaction from Rangers fans on Sunday when they were defeated by Ross County. The anger and frustration was there ten-fold.

It’s going to be a wild ride between now and the end of the season.