SFA announce match officials for Glasgow derby

Nick Walsh will referee Saturday’s Glasgow derby.

The Bearsden based PE teacher has handled the fixture once before, giving Callum McGregor a first half red card at Ibrox during the lockdown season.

Walsh was overlooked for the five derby matches last season but with Bobby Madden moving to England and complaints piling onto Willie Collum the pool of referees with experience of the fixture is light.

In his last Premiership match Walsh came in for heavy criticism from David Martindale for awarding a penalty kick on the say-so of an assistant, television coverage clearly showed that the ball didn’t strike a Livingston defender Cristian Montano’s arm.

Dylan Bahamboula was sent off in that match, one of five red cards that Walsh has dished out in his last five matches.

Walsh’s was in charge for Celtic’s 2-0 opening day win over Aberdeen and refereed Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side when they beat St Johnstone 4-0 at Ibrox.

Former Police Officer Graeme Stewart is one of the assistants, alongside Calum Spence with Steven McLean, who refereed Celtic’s 9-0 win over Dundee United the fourth official.

CLICK HERE for Walsh’s matches this season.

Asked about Walsh and Madden at last year’s AGM Celtic chairman Ian Bankier said that he had deep concern about those referees.