The spotlight is always on the referee when Rangers take on Celtic in an Old Firm derby.
These days it’s not just the man in the middle either, with VAR teams playing arguably an even bigger role in games now.
It has given rise to more debate, criticism and conspiracy within Scottish football with everything relating to the officials magnified.
Rangers have already been very hard done by in derbies this season with Vaclav Cerny denied a penalty in the Premier Sports Cup final, which the other side went on to win on penalties.
Steven McLean appointed Celtic vs Rangers referee
Steven McLean will take charge of this Sunday’s derby and will be assisted by Graham Stewart and Dougie Potter.
John Beaton is in charge of VAR and will be helped out in the studio by Sean Carr.
McLean has refereed three Rangers game this season, a 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock, a 1-0 win over St Johnstone and the 4-0 thumping of Ross County, all in the Premiership.
He has given out nine yellow cards in those matches, five of which went to Gers players.
Beaton was the man in the middle for the aforementioned cup final with that penalty shout blunder made, not helped out on that occasion by his VAR teammates.
Pressure was already on him leading into it after Brendan Rodgers’ rant about Beaton following Celtic’s defeat to Hearts last season.
Rangers and Celtic clashes so far
Both league meetings this season have been won by three goals to nil, a defeat for Rangers away from home followed by victory at Ibrox.
The Celtic Park clash was refereed by Sunday’s VAR Beaton and he dished out a whopping nine cards, five to Gers stars Jefte, Mohamed Diomande, Dujon Sterling, Cyriel Dessers and Tom Lawrence.
The January Light Blues win saw Don Robertson card just four players – Jefte and Nicolas Raskin joining Celtic’s Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn in the book.
