- Tomoki Iwata made a surprise call to leave Celtic in the summer and join a team in England’s third tier.
But, with the backing of Tom Brady, struggling Birmingham City came knocking with their financial power, and hopes of picking themselves up after relegation from the Championship.first time of asking, Birmingham have earned promotion and Iwata has played a huge part, after struggling to make a name for himself in Celtic colours.
That included a 2-1 win over Peterborough United last Tuesday, which sealed Birmingham’s success, with Iwata starting and making himself even more popular with his new fans.
But things went wrong for the ex-Celtic man at Wembley over the weekend, despite Birmingham’s momentum.
READ MORE: Tomoki Iwata leaves pundit shocked at Birmingham City after Celtic summer exit
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Tomoki Iwata and Tom Brady’s Birmingham City lose Vertu EFL Trophy final to Peterborough United
Despite never being a regular starter at Celtic Park, Iwata still played 42 matches for Scotland’s most successful club, so he would have been used to those big pressure moments.
But that experience of playing under the pressure cooker at Celtic didn’t help Iwata because his Birmingham side crumbled under the pressure, as they were beaten in the Vertu EFL Trophy final by Peterborough United.
This is despite being huge favourites going into the game, as two well-taken goals, including a stunning free-kick from Harley Mills sealed the trophy for Darren Ferguson’s men.
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Iwata played the entire game, but could do nothing to stop the upset, as Tom Brady, who is a minority shareholder in the Midlands club, watched on heartbroken from the stands.
Iwata suffers a first after Celtic experience
Celtic are used to winning trophy after trophy, and that’s what Iwata has left behind by joining Birmingham, as he suffers his first-ever final defeat.
One of the Hoops’ great final wins was when Adam Idah netted a late winner against Rangers in the Scottish Cup final in 2024.
Iwata was part of that squad, but now, for the first time, he has suffered the heartache of being on the losing side.
TOMOKI IWATA
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesPhoto by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Rangers reminded of Scottish Cup humiliation as SFA announce Celtic vs St Johnstone officials
Tue 15 April 2025 12:43
Patrick Sinat
The SFA have announced the officials for Celtic’s upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final against St Johnstone.
Brendan Rodgers is on the brink of delivering Celtic’s ninth-domestic treble this season as St Johnstone stand in his way of another domestic cup final.
With the league title all but wrapped up, the Scottish Cup remains as the only viable contested trophy this season and the Celtic manager will be desperate to get his hands on the trophy.
And now, the SFA have announced the team of officials who will take charge of Celtic’s semi-final against St Johnstone this Sunday as one gets a Hampden Bhoys debut.
READ MORE: ‘Been offered’ – Mark Guidi shares what he knows about Greg Taylor’s Celtic contract issue
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
SFA appoint Callum Scott as Scottish Cup Celtic referee vs St Johnstone
The SFA have announced that referee Callum Scott has been named as the man in the middle and will be in charge of the big Hampden date.
Assisting Scott down the sidelines will be Graeme Stewart and Dougie Potter. Andrew Dallas is appointed the VAR official with Alan Mulvanny assisting on the video technology.
With the recent VAR controversies surrounding Celtic, the SFA will be keen for this weekend to pass by quietly and hope that the fans will be talking about the result rather than any mistakes the officials make.
Callum Scott’s refereeing record vs Celtic as amid Rangers’ Scottish Cup humiliation
Callum Scott has refereed 148 matches across the various professional leagues in Scotland, handing out 538 yellows, 29 red cards and 52 penalties.
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However, in games involving Celtic, Scott has only been the man in the middle twice in the Hoops’ 5-0 win over Ross County in the Scottish Premiership back in November and the 5-2 League Cup quarter-final win against Falkirk at Celtic Park.
Scott has never refereed a Scottish Cup game involving Celtic, and his most highest profile match was, remarkably, Rangers’ 1-0 defeat in the competition to Queen’s Park.
Celtic fans will be hoping there will be no repeat of that result this weekend as the Parkhead club look to win the 43rd Scottish Cup in their history.
SCOTTISH CUP
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