Don Robertson has been appointed referee with Andrew Dallas on VAR duties at this weekend’s Champion’s League dropout Glasgow Derby at Ibrox…
Ibrox – theRangers v Celtic, 4 May 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Robertson will be the man in charge with the whistle, with Daniel McFarlane and Chris Rae running the line. Andrew Dallas will oversee VAR, assisted by Calum Scott at Clydesdale House.
One of Scotland’s most experienced referees, Robertson has already been the whistler for matches involving both clubs this season, including Celtic’s Flag Day fixture against St Mirren at Celtic Park and theRangers’ 1-1 home draw with Dundee at Ibrox three weeks ago.
Don Robertson, Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
The 38-year-old took charge of seven of Celtic’s matches across all domestic competitions last season.
Just like in this season’s opener, he officiated Brendan Rodgers’ side on Flag Day last year against Kilmarnock and later oversaw the Hoops’ 6-0 rout of St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in September.
He is perhaps best remembered for refereeing theRangers’ 3-0 victory over the Scottish champions in January. Robertson handled the game relatively well. However, towards the end of the match, he had to report an incident to Police Scotland after Arne Engels was struck with a coin by the home support.
4th December 2024; Pittodrie, Aberdeen, ; Scottish Premiership , Aberdeen versus Celtic; Don Robertson eventually shows a yellow card. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
Robertson was also in charge of Celtic’s Scottish Cup final defeat to Aberdeen on penalties back in May.
Meanwhile, the Europa League group phase draw will take place tomorrow at 12pm with Celtic expected to be in pot 2. Similarly to the Champions League last season, Celtic will play eight games, four at home and four away in a 36-team format between September until January.
The top eight go directly through to the last 16, while teams positioned 9th-24th will compete in a knockout playoff in February. 25th and below would see the Hoops’ knocked out of Europe.
It will be Thursday/Sundays for the foreseeable, with the SPFL set to announce rearranged fixture dates in due course as Celtic gets set for a season in the European slow-lane after failing to score against Kairat in over 210 minutes of football then missing three penalties from five in the shoot-out.
theRangers also exited the Champions League at the playoff stage this week. They lost 6-0 in Brugge last night after going down 3-1 in the first leg at Ibrox. They too will be in the Europa league draw tomorrow.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.
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Don Robertson has had so many bad decisions against Celtic Celtic should inquire about his poor refereeing against Celtic and Dallas well like father like son being brought up in a house that have so many bad thoughts of our Club and its existing a Catholic hating father sacked for emailing pictures and jokes of our late pope and yet gets top job in Europe that us what Celtic have to fight against since we were established yet we have brought so many highs for Spl and the old Scottish football we are hated but needed how else these old shites that think more of the little clubs the chair and yet get free travel wiped and dined best flights top hotels Cause the team the hate get into so many top compition they won’t lose out on Celtic failing the will still be treated like Lords
not to worry this time it’s 2 shite teams going at it
like 2 bald knts fighting over a comb
Robertson as the man in the middle is probably the best choice from a very poor selection box.
But Andrew Dallas on VAR is a very clear message from Willie Collum to Celtic that we will get nothing and be cheated at every corrupt opportunity.
Dallas is still the most corrupt and anti-Celtic official in the country.