THE Scottish football rulers have announced Don Robertson as referee for Celtic’s Premiership encounter against Livingston in West Lothian on Sunday.
That’s the same Don Robertson who was in the middle of the champions’ controverial 2-0 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle earier this month.
In the aftermath of a perplexing display from the whistler and VAR official John Beaton, Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers branded their performances as incompetent after a puzzling red card for Yang Hyun-jun and a mysterious penalty-kick award to the hosts.
Both decisions were taken following interruptions by eagle-eyed Beaton in front of the multi-screens at Clydesdale House in Glasgow.
SEEING RED…referee Don Robertson dismisses Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun in a controversial flashpoint incident at Tynecastle earlier this month. Hearts’ Kye Rowles appears to be happy with the decision.
Rodgers will be at Hampden on Thursday to answer an SFA Notice of Complaint following his remarks. He faces a two-game touchline ban for the match at Livi and the game at Ibrox the following weekend.
It is simply farcical for Robertson to be handed the responsibility of being appointed for this match in the fall-out of the Tynecastle debacle.
Quite apart from anything else, the match official will be placed under intolerable pressure where he will realise one slip will be highlighted and scrutinised by the thousands in the ground and millions watching on Sky TV’s live broadcast.
Graeme Stewart and Andy Milne will run the lines while Euan Anderson as fourth official. Alan Muir and Graeme Leslie are on VAR duties.
We will not know until the outcome of Thursday’s meeting at the national stadium if the Celtic manager will be in the dug-out or in the stand.
The curtain is poised to come up on Don Robertson: The Sequel and we have all got to wonder if it will be as confounding as the original earlier this month.
ALEX GORDON
SHOVE OFF: DON AND HIS ROLE IN CELTIC’S FIRST LOSS IN 39 GAMES
