Referee saved twice by VAR returns to Celtic Park on Saturday

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The Celtic Star

·22 Januari 2025

Referee saved twice by VAR returns to Celtic Park on Saturday

Colin Steven has been appointed referee for Saturday’s Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Dundee…

Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor and Arne Engels in discussion on who should take the penalty. Celtic v Hearts , Celtic Park, 14 September 2024 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

Celtic will be seeking revenge on their opponents this coming weekend after Tony Docherty’s side managed a point against the Scottish Champions at Dens Park a week ago in a dramatic 3-3 draw.

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The Dark Blues have had a terrific few weeks

The Dark Blues have had a terrific few weeks – two draws versus Glasgow’s big two in the league and a Dundee Derby victory on Monday night in the Scottish Cup fourth round means Docherty’s men approach their visit to Celtic Park full of confidence. Another bubble for us to burst folks!

Taking charge of this encounter will be the inexperienced Colin Steven. Steven has only refereed one Celtic game in his career and that came earlier on this season when the Hoops comfortably defeated Hearts 2-0 at Paradise in September.

Referee Colin Steven during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Hearts at Celtic Park, on 14 September 2024. Glasgow. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/PSI

Steven was sent to the VAR monitor on two occasion

Controversially, Steven was sent to the VAR monitor on two occasions during the game. The whistler had given a penalty to Hearts on-field in the first half after he adjudged Liam Scales to have handled the ball in the box. Overturning his decision, no penalty was awarded.

In the second 45, Steven was sent to the monitor yet again for a second ‘clear and obvious error.’ Jambos left-back James Penrice clearly handled the ball inside the box and despite not giving the penalty in real time, Steven pointed to the spot after reviewing the incident at the VAR screen.

Celtic Park. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie/ PSI

Joining Steven on-field in Glasgow’s east end on Saturday is AR1 Jonathan Bell and AR2 Alistair Mather. Manning VAR duties at Clydesdale House is Alan Muir. It will be Muir’s first involvement in a Celtic game since the contentious cup-final penalty incident that the full-time SFA VAR official presided over [which despite being more than a month ago, we are still hearing about].

Celtic v Dundee in the Scottish Premiership will kick-off at 3pm this Saturday 25 January at Celtic Park and the match will be available to watch for subscribers outside Britain and Ireland on Celtic TV.

Conor Spence