Celtic will face Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at Ibrox this Sunday with Nick Walsh appointed as the match referee. The Scottish Football Association confirmed the full officiating team for the high-stakes derby, as reported by the Daily Record.
Walsh, who holds elite UEFA status as Scotland's only referee at that level, will oversee his ninth Old Firm fixture. The 35-year-old took charge of two derbies last season, both of which Celtic won 3-1. He issued 17 yellow cards and one red card across those matches, sending off Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard for a high challenge on Anthony Ralston during the cup semi-final at Hampden.
Who are the match officials for the Ibrox clash?
Nick Walsh will be the man in the middle at Ibrox this weekend. His assistant referees will be Frank Connor and Daniel McFarlane, with Kevin Clancy serving as fourth official. The Video Assistant Referee role goes to Andrew Dallas, supported by assistant VAR Steven McLean. Walsh was first appointed to an Old Firm derby in 2021 and this marks another significant assignment in his career.
The match comes at a time when Celtic sit top of the Scottish Premiership with a perfect record of five wins from five games. They hold a three-point lead over Heart of Midlothian and have scored 13 goals while conceding just three. Their most recent result was a 2-1 away victory over St Mirren on September 5th. You can track their progress in the standings.
What is the context for this cup tie?
This cup quarter-final arrives just seven days before the teams meet again in the league at Celtic Park on September 20th. Neither match will feature away supporters due to a temporary arrangement following supporter disorder during last season's Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox. Rangers had initially offered Celtic 300 tickets for this weekend's cup tie, an offer Celtic rejected.
Brendan Rodgers's side are currently on a five-game winning run across all competitions. Their next fixture after this cup tie is that league meeting with Rangers, who currently sit fourth in the table. The full schedule is available on our fixtures page.
How does Celtic's squad look ahead of the derby?
The team will be without several key players due to injury. Currently sidelined are Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, Kasper Høgh, Kieran Tierney, and Jota. Manager Brendan Rodgers will need to navigate these absences during a critical period of the season. Updates on player availability can be found on our injuries page.
Nick Walsh's appointment shows the importance the SFA places on this fixture. His experience in high-pressure environments will be tested in what is always a fiercely contested match. Celtic will look to maintain their strong early-season form and advance in a competition they have historically performed well in. The quarter-final at Ibrox kicks off on Sunday.
