WILLIE COLLUM will be in charge of Celtic’s crucial Premiership encounter against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side at Parkhead on Saturday.
The experienced referee was fourth official as the teams drew 3-3 in Govan last month when John Beaton was the man in the middle.
On this occasion, Collum will be assisted in the VAR studio by Steven McLean while Don Robertson will be the fourth official.
Robertson has also been announced by the SFA as referee for the champions’ match against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park the following midweek. Greg Aitken will be his technical assistant with Euan Anderson the fourth official.
It’s Collum’s first all-Glasgow encounter this season with Robertson and Nick Walsh, as well as Beaton, being handed the responsibility of the previous three.
MAY THE FOURTH (OFFICIAL) BE WITH YOU…Willie Collum looks on as Philippe Clement yells at his players during the 3-3 draw at Ibrox last month.
Collum was the target of a futile complaint by Rangers following their 2-1 loss at the same venue on December 30.
The Govan hierarchy made it clear they had not been satisfied with the VAR official following an alleged Alistair Johnston handball incident in a movement that was shown that their own player, Abdullah Sima, had been offside in the build-up.
Collum, after scrutinsing lead-up play on the multi screens at Clydesdale House, provided irrefutable proof that the Ibrox player was in an illegal position and any forlorn hopes of a penalty-kick would have been rendered null and void.
The actions of the Ibrox side forced outgoing SFA ref supervisor Crawford Allan to state: “At no point will a club influence a decision of a referee appointment in Scotland.
“I can categorically state that the Scottish FA will appoint referees to the best of that person’s experience, ability and professionalism.”
He added: “We totally reject any request from any club that a referee would not be considered for their club appointments.”
Now Collum steps into the fray once again in the east end of the city in four days’ time.
