STEVEN McLEAN will be in charge of Celtic’s crucial visit to Tynecastle to take on Premiership pacesetters Hearts in the High Noon showdown on Sunday.
The Hoops will be hoping to avert the sensational VAR uproar in their previous trip to Edinburgh in February when the same referee officiated in the controversial 2-1 loss to Hibs at Easter Road.
On that occasion, Daizen Maeda, who had scored the visitors’ goal as they fought back from 2-0 down, thought he had claimed the equaliser with seven minutes to play. The Japanese ace swooped on a spill from keeper Jordan Smith following a cross from Alistair Johnston on the right-side byeline.
CONTROVERSY IN THE CAPITAL…Daizen Maeda and Filipe Jota celebrate while referee Steven McLean signals a goal, bur VAR erroneously wiped out what would have been an equaliser against Hibs.
McLean and his assistant both signalled a goal, but VAR intervened and the strike was nullified. Alan Muir, at the screens, ruled the ball had gone out of play after Johnston’s cross although there was no evidence to support his decision.
Referee guru Willie Collum later admitted the official had made a mistake and Muir was fired from his post.
On Sunday, McLean will be assisted by Graeme Stewart and David Roome on the touchlines, with Andrew Dallas in charge of VAR.
The Hoops go into the encounter five points adrift of Derek McInnes’ side.
