STEVEN McLEAN will take charge of the Celtic v Inverness Caley Thistle Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden on Sunday.
It will be the fourth time the official has refereed the Hoops this season – and Ronny Deila’s team have lost two of the previous three.
McLean was in control as the SPFL champions were shocked 1-0 by Hamilton in October when an Ali Crawford strike gave the Douglas Park side their first win at Parkhead in SEVENTY-SIX years.
He was at the centre of a ‘no goal’ storm when Celtic lost 2-1 to Dundee United at Tannadice in December.
Jackie McNamara was on his way to his first win over his old side when goals from Nifti Cifci and Stuart Armstrong gave the Tayside outfit a 2-0 lead after the hour mark.
Substitute Sefan Scepovic, who had replaced John Guidetti, thought he had pulled one back when he hooked a pass from Emilio Izaguire into the net. However, McLean, after a flag from his assistant Joe Lawson, ruled it out for offside.
TV pictures later showed that United defender Blair Spittal had clearly played on the Serbian frontman and the effort was legitimate. Turned out to be an ‘honest mistake’ then.
However, Deila refused to get involved in a slanging match afterwards and said: “The disallowed goal is disappointing, of course, but, over a whole season, these things are even-steven.”
McLean officiated at New Douglas Park in January when goals from Adam Matthews and Liam Henderson gave Celtic a 2-0 victory.
His assistants at the national stadium at the weekend will be Andrew Dallas and Don Robertson.
The last time McLean was at Hampden he was the centre of attention when he ruled out an Adam Rooney ‘goal’ in the League Cup semi-final with Aberdeen and Dundee United deadlocked at 1-1.
The Dons striker’s header following a corner-kick looked good, but it was wiped out, presumably for a push. Pittodrie legend Willie Miller, after watching TV replays, admitted the decision was “baffling”.
A goal six minutes from time by Ciftci gave McNamara’s side a place in the Final where they lost 2-0 to Celtic last month.
