Old Firm Referee Appointed
Nick Walsh Appointed Referee for Upcoming Old Firm Cup Clash at Ibrox
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Key Points
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Walsh showed 17 yellow cards across the two Old Firm matches he officiated last season, in addition to sending off Rangers’ Thelo Aasgaard during the League Cup semi-final.
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Walsh has not issued a red card in an Old Firm derby since his first such appointment in 2021, when he dismissed Celtic captain Callum McGregor; Rangers supporters also argued that Celtic’s Alistair Johnston should have been sent off for a late tackle on Mikey Moore in May.
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Celtic rejected Rangers’ offer of only 300 away tickets for the Ibrox quarter-final, after which it was confirmed that away supporters would be excluded from all Rangers-Celtic fixtures this season.
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The fallout from last season’s Scottish Cup quarter-final also led the SFA to order both clubs to play their next Scottish Cup home matches behind closed doors.
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Celtic’s league meeting with Rangers follows the cup tie amid a crowded schedule that includes the club’s Europa League opener against Ferencváros at home.
Nick Walsh has been appointed referee for Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox, marking his ninth Old Firm derby. SFA confirmed the match officials, with Frank Connor and Daniel McFarlane as assistants, Kevin Clancy as fourth official, and Andrew Dallas and Steven McLean overseeing VAR. The fixture will proceed without away supporters following tensions from last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final.
Walsh, Scotland's only UEFA elite-level referee, officiated two Celtic wins over Rangers last season and showed 17 yellow cards across those matches. Daily Record reports that away fans will be barred from the Ibrox clash after Celtic rejected Rangers' offer of just 300 away tickets, leading to a blanket ban on traveling supporters for all Rangers-Celtic fixtures this season.
Walsh's Track Record in Old Firm Derbies
Walsh has now taken charge of nine Old Firm matches, with his experience bringing both strict enforcement and controversy. Last season, he showed 17 yellow cards across two Celtic victories over Rangers. Scotsman notes Walsh also sent off Rangers' Thelo Aasgaard during a League Cup semi-final, though he has not issued a red card in an Old Firm derby since dismissing Celtic captain Callum McGregor in 2021.
Rangers supporters argued that Celtic's Alistair Johnston should have been sent off for a late tackle on Mikey Moore in May. The debate over Walsh's consistency adds pressure to Sunday's high-stakes quarter-final, with both clubs knowing any controversial decision could spark further tension.
Away Fan Ban Follows Contentious Scottish Cup Tie
The decision to bar away supporters stems from last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. Celtic rejected Rangers' initial offer of only 300 away tickets, which led SFA to confirm a total away fan exclusion for all Rangers-Celtic matches this season. The move reflects escalating tensions between the two clubs and their supporters.
Celts Are Here reports that the fallout also prompted SFA to order both clubs to play their next Scottish Cup home matches behind closed doors. This marks a significant penalty for both Rangers and Celtic as they navigate a crowded schedule that includes Celtic's Europa League opener against Ferencváros at home following the Ibrox quarter-final.
Double-Header Intensity Tests Both Teams
Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final kicks off an Old Firm double-header. The teams will meet again the following week in a league fixture at Celtic Park, compressing two intense derbies into eight days. Daily Record highlights that Celtic's schedule includes a Europa League clash against Ferencváros at home, adding pressure to an already demanding period.
The back-to-back fixtures test both squads' depth and focus. With away fans absent, the atmosphere at Ibrox will differ from typical Old Firm clashes, potentially reducing the usual volatility that can cloud referee decisions and fuel post-match controversy.
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