The Scottish FA has confirmed the match referee for Sunday’s Premiership derby against Celtic, with Nick Walsh shifting to VAR duties at Clydesdale House. Derek McInnes will take his Rangers squad to Celtic Park without any visiting supporters following the continuation of the away-fan ban. Walsh’s transition to the video monitor comes just seven days after he officiated Rangers’ dominant 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final victory over Martin O’Neill’s side.
Historical Derby Disciplinary Record
The 44-year-old has officiated 59 Rangers fixtures throughout his career, distributing 103 yellow cards while dismissing only one player. Rangers have secured 38 victories under his watch, losing just once in their previous eight matches across all competitions. Conversely, Celtic boast an exceptionally strong historical record with the official, winning 50 of their 66 matches, though they have dropped points in two of their last five. The Glaswegian referee last oversaw this fixture in March, taking charge of a 2-2 draw at Ibrox where a Youssef Chermiti double secured a point for the hosts. David McGeachie and Jonathan Bell will serve as assistant referees this weekend, with Grant Irvine supporting Walsh in the VAR room. As McInnes prepares his squad while handling internal player retention, the officiating team faces significant scrutiny in a hostile, single-fanbase environment. The Scottish FA’s confirmed derby refereeing appointments establish a critical dynamic between pitch-side control and Clydesdale House interventions. Rangers travel to Parkhead on Sunday looking to close the gap at the top of the table.
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