Bobby Madden handed refereeing duties for Rangers v Celtic Scottish Cup clash
Bobby Madden has been handed the Old Firm refereeing reigns once again as Rangers host Celtic in next weekend’s Scottish Cup quarter-final clash.
The Gers swept aside Cove Rangers 4-0 last Sunday to book a mouthwatering tie with their bitter rivals in the next round and it will be the second time the sides meet within a month.
Alfredo Morelos scored in a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park on March 21 as the Light Blues basked in their recent Premiership title glory while they also met in January when a Callum McGregor own-goal handed Steven Gerrard’s side a 1-0 win.
Madden was in charge of that game at Ibrox and he will line up in the middle of the hallowed turf once more after the SFA handed him the unenviable task of trying to control this hotly-contested clash, as reported by the Daily Record.
We think Celtic fans will be up in arms at this decision and Bears are sure to find the funny side.
Madden sent-off Nir Bitton in that fierce Old Firm on January 2 as the Gers put themselves firmly in the driving seat for No.55 which was to be achieved a few months later.
The Isreal international was handed his marching orders for hauling down Morelos just after the hour mark with the scoreline level, and it only took eight minutes for us to make the one-man advantage show.
Then-Celtic boss Neil Lennon, who has since departed the Hoops, was incensed by the decision, saying they had “been done by a pretty poor refereeing decision” [Daily Record].
He may have escaped the chaos at Celtic Park but current incumbent to the post John Kennedy, his former assistant, will surely still have that game firmly in mind, as will many bitter Celtic supporters.
Their argument was that Kristoffer Ajer was coming around to cover for Bitton and stop Morelos in his tracks.
We don’t believe that for a second. Ajer is a carthorse compared to El Buffalo, but it will be funny to see Celtic tears stream down at the prospect of another contentious decision against them when we cross paths in the Scottish Cup.
In other Rangers news, Steven Gerrard hits out at social media companies amid constant failures.