Controversy Surrounds Referee Appointments for Celtic-Rangers Matches
Recent appointments of match officials for Celtic versus Rangers games have sparked controversy, with concerns raised about potential bias. The Scottish FA has confirmed the officials for upcoming matches, continuing a trend that has drawn criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Upcoming Scottish Cup Quarter-Final Appointments
Don Robertson will referee the Scottish Cup quarter-final match between Celtic and Rangers at Ibrox on March 8th, with a 1:00 PM kick-off. He will be assisted by Ross Macleod and David Roome. Andrew Dallas will be on VAR duties, assisted by Matthew MacDermid, the official who previously issued a red card to Auston Trusty of Celtic during a match against Hibs. Source
Recent Derby Officiating
The appointments follow a recent Glasgow Derby on February 24, 2026, at Ibrox, where John Beaton was the referee and Steven McLean was on VAR. Source Beaton had previously officiated Celtic’s 3-0 league win at Ibrox and the League Cup final. In the league match, he booked four Celtic players and five Rangers players, while in the cup final, he issued three yellow cards to Celtic and six to Rangers. Source
Prior to this, Steven McLean was appointed as the referee for a Celtic v Rangers clash at Celtic Park on March 16th. Source
Concerns Over Official Bias
The repeated appointment of John Beaton and Steven McLean, described as known Rangers supporters, has raised questions about impartiality. Source Critics have questioned why officials from other regions of Scotland are not being considered for these high-profile matches. Source
Previous Controversies
During a previous derby, VAR failed to intervene when a penalty should have been awarded to Rangers while officiated by Beaton. Source Matthew MacDermid’s decision to issue a red card to Auston Trusty is also under appeal by Celtic. Source
Upcoming Fixtures for Celtic
Before the return trip to Ibrox, Celtic has a crucial Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. A win would move Celtic into second place in the league, five points behind Hearts.