Don’t look back in anger – Bobby Madden heads south of the border

Controversial Scottish referee, Bobby Madden has relocated to England and will now no longer take charge of top flight games in Scotland. This comes as quite a surprise, given there had been no inclination that the SFA employee was ready to quit the game up here.

Madden posted his surprise announcement on Instagram this afternoon which you can read below.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bobby Madden (@bobby_madden_)

So Madden will now preside over games in the lower tiers of the England – League One and League Two. Madden, 43, officiated for more than 1,000 matches during his time in the Scotland, never one to fly under the spotlight with unusual performances throughout his tenure.

Celtic fans, it is fair to say, will be glad to see the back of the man in black, as he more than a few times in the past has cost the Hoops dearly. On several occasions last season alone, the referee with alleged Ibrox sympathies allowed some barbaric tackles to go unchallenged on players in green and white; Andy Haliday’s challenge on Callum McGregor versus Hearts being a particular nasty incident.

Many believe that Madden had an agenda in mind when it came to Ange Postecoglou’s side, calling continual fouls against them when it was quite literally impossible considering we had the ball for most of the 90 minutes every weeks. However, this did not stop the controversial whistler from preventing Celtic implementing their fast-paced attacking game, although he did appear to get the upper hand with his Scottish Cup semi-final refereeing performance in April, his last ever Glasgow Derby with a whistle.

Madden was horrendous on the day and should have sent John Lundstram off for persistent if not cynical fouling. It was not to be. Ultimately, the Bhoys would come undone in extra-time even though the game should have been swayed in our favour if it were not for some dubious decisions on the day at Hampden.

It now looks like we are free from Madden’s awful officiating. Although there are many more men in the middle who are suspect when it comes to decisions for and against their favourite club.

One down….

Paul Gillespie

David Potter’s new book, Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style is featured in the new edition of the Celtic View which is out now and available from the Celtic Stores.  You can also pick up the Willie Fernie book there too or order direct from Celtic Star Books, link below…

About Author

I'm a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins. Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I'm still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

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