CONTROVERSIAL referee Bobby Madden has been tipped to take charge of the Celtic v Rangers League Cup semi-final on February 1.
If he gets the nod for the Hampden tie, the match official cannot expect an endorsement from former Hoops boss Neil Lennon.
Here are just some of the Irishman’s comments after a 1-1 draw against St Mirren in Paisley in March 2013.
Lennon said: “The referee gave the most appalling performance I’ve seen for a long, long time.
“Victor Wanyama was sent off for no good reason and the penalty that cost us all three points was wrong, as well.
“It was clearly outside the box.
“But what chance do you have when Beram Kayal is knocked off the pitch and sent crashing into an advertising hoarding before that and nothing’s done about it by the match officials?
”The referee’s decisions ruined what could’ve been a really good game.
“Not only is Wanyama’s red card ridiculous, it changes the course of the game when we’re reduced to 10 men and ruins the match as a spectacle.
“I thought it was right to disallow the goal St Mirren thought they’d got after we went one up.
“There was a clear-cut foul on our goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, before the ball dropped over the line.
“I’ve gradually become concerned by the standard of refereeing in this country over the last couple of months. “I’ve kept my own counsel during that time, but now I have to say I’ve
been baffled by some of the bizarre decisions that have been given against my team, and others, this season.”
Football chiefs might actually have agreed with Lennon’s observations.
Madden was demoted to the Second Division game between Arbroath and Albion Rovers a week later.
