Scottish Premiership

Celtic gave 13-year-old Karamoko Dembele a nine-minute debut for their under-20 side as they beat Hearts 3-1 in the SPFL Development League on Monday. 

Namesake of Celtic's 20-year-old French striker Moussa Dembele—who has been prolific for the Hoops' first team this season following a summer move from Fulham—the 2003-born Dembele replaced Jack Aitchison in the 81st minute against Hearts, per football writer Liam O'Hare:

Per Celtic's match report, "the diminutive playmaker didn’t look out of place and played his part in the closing stages."

According to PA Sport (via ESPN FC), Dembele has recently been named player of the tournament at both the St Kevin's Boys club competition in Dublin and Bassevelde Cup in Belgium—which Celtic won—and he is more regularly a star in the under-14s and under-15s.  

The below video shows a glimpse as to what he is capable of, and hints at why he was given his chance in the under-20 side:

As noted by Bleacher Report UK, the Celtic youngster could soon add himself to the string of Dembeles currently pulling up trees across Europe:

Along with Celtic's Moussa, Ousmane Dembele, 19, has started his Borussia Dortmund career brightly following his summer move from Rennes, while Tottenham Hotspur are still awaiting the return of 29-year-old Mousa Dembele from injury. 

Given how early Karamoko has made the step up to under-20 action, it may not be long before he joins them at a senior level in European football. 

Celtic could be facing disciplinary action from UEFA after their fans displayed Palestinian flags during the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva on Wednesday night.

The Hoops have been punished eight times in the last five years by the governing body for a variety offences, while last night's scenes could incur further reprimand if deemed an act of political expression—something forbidden by UEFA.

Brendan Rodgers' side won the first leg qualifier, 5-2, but could face a partial closure of their stadium for future fixtures if they are found guilty.

[Sky Sports]

Sky Sports News suffered a highly embarrassing moment on Wednesday when it referred to made up facts regarding the Lincoln Red Imps, who inflicted a shock 1-0 UEFA Champions League qualifier defeat on Celtic on Tuesday in what was Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge.

The embarrassing result prompted Twitter user @GeorgeWeahsCousin to mock a stats chart that claimed the Red Imps manager was hired after winning a competition and that the team can't train on Tuesdays as their pitch is used by a local metal detecting society.

Warning: the following tweets contain some NSFW language.

Fucking Hell Celtic pic.twitter.com/JDjmECrcaT

— GeorgeWeahsCousin (@WeahsCousin) July 12, 2016

The made up facts were then used by Sky Sports News in an interview with former Celtic player Andy Walker.

That led to much amusement online, with viewers ridiculing the channel for its error:

Sky Sports News actually believed that photoshopped image of the Lincoln Red Imps statistics 😂😂😂

— Kieran Polland (@Kieran_Polland) July 13, 2016

Sky Sports News journalism at its finest. Made up facts for Twitter fun being used on @SkySportsNewsHQ as truth https://t.co/w3gakQB4SQ

— Colm (@cohcfc) July 13, 2016

Sky Sports News is dead. https://t.co/Csbj1lzsV0

— Will (@Will_H86) July 13, 2016

@scodawg77 @WeahsCousin I know it's fake, but it's incredible how sky sports news believed it

— Mike (@mike_mufc94) July 13, 2016

And while those facts may have been made up, it appears one of Celtic's conquerors does work for a taxi firm when he's not playing football:

Asked guy who booked me taxi at stadium if he's going to @celticfc game tmw. "Yes, I'm a @LincolnRedImps player" pic.twitter.com/VkC8PU1H9P

— Ronnie Esplin (@RonnieEsplin) July 11, 2016

At least we hope that's true anyway...

[Twitter]

Brendan Rodgers has been appointed manager of Celtic, the Scottish Premier League champions confirmed on their Twitter account.

It means a return to work for former Liverpool boss Rodgers, who was sacked by the Anfield club earlier in the season. He'll replace Ronny Deila who left Celtic Park in April.

Rodgers called it an "honour" to join a club with Celtic's heritage after signing a one-year, rolling contract, per Sky Sports Scotland:

The new manager also promised a distinctive brand of football for the Celtic faithful to admire next season, according to the same source:

Rodgers even set himself a target to deliver success on the continent, per the club's official site: "My objective now, of course, is to continue this work, to keep us at the top and again make our mark in Europe."

Making a mark in Europe is something Celtic have struggled to do for a while. Martin O'Neill guided the club to a UEFA Cup final in 2003, while Jock Stein's famous "Lisbon Lions" lifted the European Cup in 1967.

Dominance on domestic shores has been assured for decades, particularly during recent seasons when Glasgow rivals Rangers have been toiling in the lower echelons of Scottish football.

Yet Rodgers will be under pressure to prove he can handle the demands of top-level European football after a disappointing end to his Liverpool spell. He was sacked in September after just over three seasons in charge.

The Northern Irishman guided the Reds to the brink of a Premier League title in the 2013-14 campaign, which ensured qualification for the UEFA Champions League the following season.

But a poor record in Europe, per WhoScored.com, has to concern Celtic supporters:

Despite any concerns, though, chairman Ian Bankier is convinced Celtic got the right man, per the club: "As expected, there was huge interest in the position of Celtic manager but we believe we have chosen the outstanding candidate to take the club forward."

Bankier may be proved right, but a 12-month, rolling deal could also be interpreted as both sides hedging their bets.

There has been a certain amount of buzz around Patrick Roberts since he earned an £11 million move from Fulham to Manchester City last summer.

The 18-year-old winger will be spending the next 18 months playing for Celtic—and the fans at Parkhead are apparently in for some world-class entertainment. According to Mark Wilson of the Scottish Daily Mail, Roberts said that playing like his idol, Lionel Messi, "comes naturally to him":

It's a conscious thing from me to try to be like Messi. I've watched him for years and he's my idol.

You try to copy what he does and it also comes naturally to me as well. Because I'm left-footed I tend to move the same way as he does.

In games I try to replicate what he does. I've studied him on YouTube and when La Liga is on, I watch that all the time. My view is that you watch the best to learn from the best.

These quotes may add to the weight of expectancy on Roberts' shoulders. In addition to his relatively high transfer fee, Craig Swan of the Daily Record reported that Sir Trevor Brooking hailed Roberts as a player capable of helping England to glory at Euro 2020.

[Daily Mail]

Celtic fans famously sing "You'll Never Walk Alone" before matches, but it seems there is one supporter that nobody wants to sit beside.

A smelly fan has been letting off such an unpleasant odour in the main stand that the Scottish champions have been forced to step in and remind all supporters about their hygienic responsibilities.

As per Independent.ie: 

Celtic have confirmed that they have written to their own supporters reminding them of the 'need to wash' before attending matches.

The bizarre intervention comes after fans complained about a smelly fellow supporter.

Season ticket holders in the main stand at Celtic Park, where the pong has been reported, were sent a letter by officials.

No doubt Celtic will get some stick from other fans for this letter, but we are sure the fans in the locality will take the short-term embarrassment if it results in long-term freshness.

[Independent.ie]

There are almost no words to describe the new mascot revealed by Scottish football team Partick Thistle. Fortunately, that's where Twitter comes in.

The SPL club confirmed that Kingsley, designed by artist David Shrigley, would be the club's new mascot next season.

According to the club's statement, it comes as part of a wider investment in the club:

Shrigley has maintained his involvement and has designed a unique Kingsford logo which will adorn the front of Thistle’s shirts and be featured prominently around the stadium. In addition, a new Shrigley-designed mascot, named Kingsley, will be in attendance on match days.

Presumably, they weren't quite expecting this reaction to the new mascot:

Exclusive comment from Partick Thistle's new mascot. pic.twitter.com/yXtNO9gj5r

— thisGRAEME (@thisGRAEME) June 22, 2015

Before and after a season watching Partick Thistle pic.twitter.com/gdE0wA5F2M

— Ian Prior (@ianprior) June 22, 2015

What happens when you cross Lisa Simpson, the Teletubbies sun baby and Jose Bosingwa? https://t.co/7dxa4KotqK

— Nick Akerman (@Nakerman) June 22, 2015

@MarkWhyy @FutbolIntellect I love him. ALL HAIL KINGSLEY THE DEMENTED NIGHTMARE SUN

— Nate Scott (@aNateScott) June 22, 2015

Meet Kingsley, @ThistleTweet new mascot. pic.twitter.com/4RmUMzuenB

— Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) June 22, 2015

And the saddest part of it all? The last mascot, Jaggy MacBee, is now out of work.

Feeling very sorry for @JaggyMacBee right now. pic.twitter.com/MpsdHALhJ1

— Football Clichés (@FootballCliches) June 22, 2015

[Twitter] 

It's been a fairly forgettable campaign on the pitch for Scottish Premiership side St. Mirren. 

The club currently are languishing at the bottom of the Scottish top flight, and it's near inevitable that The Buddies will drop into the Scottish Championship.

As their season winds down, though, the club and its fans have done a wonderful gesture for a six-year-old academy player. 

Aaron Woodall, who was diagnosed with cancer in late 2014, is currently recovering after having a brain tumour removed. 

He's now been voted as the club's Player of the Year. 

Per St. Mirren fan site Black and White Army, the logic was explained: "Aaron's strength and courage has been an inspiration to all of us, and a timely reminder of things around us that are much more important than football." 

As a result, the youngster will receive a signed shirt from the club's 2013 Scottish League Cup-winning side. 

[Project Babb]

Celtic were crowned Scottish champions for the fourth successive season after Aberdeen's 1-0 defeat to Dundee United on Saturday.

The Bhoys moved within reach of the Scottish Premiership title on Friday, when they beat Dundee 5-0.

Second-placed Aberdeen knew only a victory at Tannadice would be enough to keep their slim title hopes alive, but they could not get the necessary result.

Sky Sports Football reported the news of Celtic's triumph:

Celtic sit 11 points clear of the Dons with three games remaining, thus confirming their championship success in Ronny Deila's first season in charge.

Deila paid tribute to his side's efforts over the season, per Paul Cuddihy on Celtic's website:

We have achieved a big thing—winning the league for the fourth time—and hopefully there will be more and more. Defensively we have been unbelievable the whole season and we have hardly conceded a goal. Offensively we have been getting better and we scored five beautiful goals against Dundee on Friday night.

They add the title victory to their Scottish League Cup triumph in March.

It is the Glasgow outfit's 46th Scottish title, and they are now just eight behind Rangers' record haul of 54.

In truth, the title had looked like Celtic's to lose since late January, and a 4-0 drubbing of Aberdeen in March looked to be a huge step toward Premiership glory.

Striker Leigh Griffiths credited his manager following Celtic's confirmation as champions, per the Daily Record's Scott McDermott:

The gaffer deserves a lot of credit because after the first few months we were struggling and had been knocked out of the Champions League. Things weren’t going our way and some people were wanting him sacked. But he showed the mentality he has by sticking to his guns and playing the same way. The results came for us and we’ve finished the season as champions.

Sports writer Brian McNally gave similar credit to Deila, who endured a tough start to life in Glasgow:

Scotland's top division has been slightly lacking this season, with big-name clubs such as Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers all battling it out in the second tier.

But Aberdeen deserve great credit for pushing Celtic this far.

Eventually, though, despite an indifferent start to the season—they dropped 10 points in their opening eight fixtures—Celtic have come through as worthy winners.

St. Mirren club captain Steven Thompson has issued an apology to team-mate John McGinn after impaling him with a spike in a training prank gone wrong.

The 36-year-old's actions will see McGinn ruled out for three weeks with injury.

According to the Daily Record, the incident arose after McGinn, 20, robbed Thompson of the ball in training. The latter picked up a spiked pole and threw it McGinn's way. It buried itself into his thigh, and the cut was bleeding profusely. 

Thompson, as reported by the The Scottish Sun, said:

I've been shocked by it, to be honest, really down about it. I like a laugh and a joke in training, but for something like this to happen is just unbelievable.

The pole went about a centimetre into his leg and he's obviously got quite a bad injury. The word seems to be he'll be out for around three weeks.

I think he's torn his muscle slightly and, while he needs to make sure it heals properly, there isn't going to be any long-term damage.

I'm just mortified by the whole thing. It was a daft prank. It wasn't like I threw the pole out of anger or anything like that. That's not what happened.

I threw it for a laugh, stupid me trying to be funny, and unfortunately it's anything but. It's a total disaster.

The club named McGinn the Player of the Year in 2013/14, and he has earned caps for the Scotland U21 team.

[The Scottish Sun, Daily Record]