SFA put Porteous red card row ref in charge of Celtic match

Nick Walsh will referee Celtic’s SPFL clash with St Johnstone on Saturday- his first appointment since the controversial sending off of Ryan Porteous at Ibrox on October 3.

Having let John Lundstrum off with a questionable early challenge on Josh Doig the Bearsden PE teacher reached for red on the half hour mark when Porteous slid into a challenge on Joe Aribo.

A 1-0 lead for Hibs was converted into a 2-1 defeat with the SFA throwing out their appeal against the red card issued to their central defender. It was the second red card of his career for Porteous, both issued by Walsh in matches against Steven Gerrard’s side.

Walsh hasn’t been given any Celtic matches this season, in May he gave Callum McGregor a first half red card at Ibrox.

The PE teacher has worked his way onto the FIFA list, taking charge of two Europa Conference qualifiers and the group stage match between Hertha Berlin and Maccabi Haifa group fixture on September 30.

In Celtic’s last domestic match Willie Collum had to be replaced during the first half by Craig Fordyce, against St Johnstone Walsh will have Craig Napier as his fourth official.

CLICK HERE for the weekend referee appointments.

CLICK HERE for Walsh’s disciplinary record.