Craig Thomson will return to Celtic duty for Saturday’s league match at Inverness Caley Thistle.
The FIFA rated whistler has had a disappointing season with his last two Celtic matches- against Sevco in the League Cup and Dundee United in the Scottish Cup– full of controversy. After the Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice Calum Murray replaced Thomson for the replay.
David McGeachgie will be assisting Thomson at the Tulloch Caldeonian Stadium- earlier this year he was in the headlines for denying Aberdeen a goal at Hamilton despite an Adam Rooney effort bouncing a foot over the line.
Thomson was given the Celtic v Sevco League Cup tie after initial speculation that Bobby Madden would get the match. Among the many mistakes made by the match referee Lee McCulloch got away with elbowing Leigh Griffiths and a brutal double attack on John Guidetti late in the match.
After Celtic had raced into an early two goal lead Thomson refused to play advantage when he belatedly called for a foul despite Griffiths racing in on goal.
Five weeks later the same referee was in charge of Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter final with Dundee United which turned into one of the most controversial games of the season.
After failing to award a foul against Scott Brown for a late challenge on Nadir Ciftci Thomson missed the United striker retaliate by kicking out at Brown’s head. As he followed play up the park the match was halted by assistant Graham Chambers racing onto the park resulting in Virgil van Dijk and Calum Butcher being sent off. Both red cards were overturned on appeal.
Tonight’s Celtic v Partick Thistle match will be refereed by Willie Collum.