Sixth time this season! SFA switch Bobby Madden to take charge of Glasgow derby

Bobby Madden will referee his SIXTH Celtic match of the season when he takes charge of the Glasgow derby on Wednesday. 

It is an incredible figure for the same referee t be in charge of 25% of matches for the same club. In total 17 different referees have been given Premiership matches this season.

Wednesday’s match will be Celtic’s 24th Premiership match of the season, Madden’s fellow Lanarkshire referee John Beaton took charge of his first Celtic match in last night’s clash with Hearts at Tynecastle. 

Willie Collum was originally scheduled to take charge of the January 2 match but it seems that the SFA have had a change of mind with the game pushed back a month. 

Madden was last in charge of Celtic for the away match against St Johnstone on December 26, prior to that he had refereed Hearts home and away, Aberdeen away in October where he awarded 27 fouls against the hoops despite 61% possession and the home draw with Livingston. 

Last February Madden had to step down from Celtic’s away match at Ross County when a newspaper contacted the SFA to inform them that their match referee should be self isolating after being a close contact with another referee during a trip to Athens. 

Questioned about Madden and Nick Walsh at the Celtic AGM in November, chairman Ian Bankier said that he had deep concerns about referees.

CLICK HERE for Madden’s games this season