SFA stand by Bobby Madden by handing him Celtic clash

Fresh from his controversies at Dundee on Saturday Bobby Madden will take charge of Celtic’s match on Sunday away to Aberdeen.

James McPake was on the end of a red card from the Lanarkshire based referee after he disputed an ordering off claim to which Madden replied ‘you missed the penalty anyway’.

Madden has already refereed Celtic this season, taking charge of the opening day defeat when Andy Halliday escaped unpunished from a brutal foul on Callum McGregor. Madden and Halliday have appeared together a number of times on the Open Goal podcast hosted by Si Ferry.

In February the SFA had to call in a last minute replacement for Madden when he tried to referee Ross County v Celtic when he should have been self isolating after a midweek trip to Greece.

Kevin Clancy, Euan Anderson and now Madden will each have refereed two of Celtic’s opening eight SPFL matches which seems a strange rota when there are 16 referees that have taken charge of a Premiership match this season.

Scott Brown is likely to play against Celtic for the first time in 15 years with the Dons captained assured of a warm welcome from the travelling support- until the game kicks off and the tackles go flying in.