The officials for Celtic’s Scottish Cup Quarter-final tie against Hearts at Tyncastle have been confirmed – and it doesn’t make for great reading let me tell you! This year has seen some of the biggest mistakes in Scottish football for quite some time and although there has always been bad officiating, some of the calls this year have been ‘ridiculous’ as Andy Walker exclaimed last Sunday on Sky Sports Scotland.

Celtic have always endured a tough relationship with the authorities in Scotland since the club first came into being and not much has changed throughout the years either. This season though, the implementation of VAR technology has given officials another opportunity to deny the Hoops goals and penalties, whilst giving penalties against us through a vague interpretation of the handball rule.

We face-off against Hearts tomorrow night at Celtic Park, in what will be the first of a double-header between us and the Edinburgh side. No doubt there will be ample opportunity yet again for those operating within the confines of the VAR Room to tamper with the decision making on the field of play, and hamper Ange Postecoglou’s side in the process.

: Referee William Collum reacts during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Germany and Armenia at Mercedes Benz Arena on September 05, 2021 in Stuttgart (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

The game at Tyncastle back in October when we won 4-3, thanks to a wonderful Greg Taylor goal, was littered with dodgy calls and saw us denied a stonewall penalty for a handball by Hearts defender, Michael Smith. It was a game which could have derailed us but we still overcame the difficulties that were presented to us that day by the officials.

So, without any further delay, the match officials for Saturday’s Scottish Cup Quarter-final tie are as follows:

Hearts vs Celtic – Scottish Cup Quarter-Final. Referee: Kevin Clancy. AR1: David McGeachie.
AR2: Dougie Potter. Fourth Official: David Munro

VAR: William Collum. AVAR: Daniel McFarlane

Let the fun commence!

Paul Gillespie

Matthew Marr’s debut Celtic book – The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name – is out on 24 March on Celtic Star Books

Pushing the launch of Matthew Marr’s debut Celtic book – ‘The BOULD BHOYS – Glory to their name’ back a week to Friday 24 March. Thanks to everyone who has ordered since we announced the book last night via an interview with the author. Please note that all pre-ordered books will be personally signed by Matthew Marr and you can order below if you’d like a signed copy posted out to you 24 March.