Kevin Clancy to referee Celtic crunch clash with Rangers as VAR official also announced for derby showdown

Kevin Clancy will take charge of Saturday’s top of the table clash between Celtic and Rangers.

But just as much focus will be on Nick Walsh, who’s been appointed as VAR and will be Clancy's eye in the sky when the two do battle at Parkhead. Ange Postecoglou has challenged his players to win every remaining game and set a Premiership points record, and they can go 12 points clear of their rivals with a win at the weekend.

Rangers’ hopes of denying the Hoops a second successive league crown are slim, but a victory in their neighbours’ backyard would cut the gap to six points and at least make things slightly more interesting with another meeting of the two to come at Ibrox after the split. However, the Gers record across town isn't great, having won just 6 from 36 games played at Celtic Park since the turn of the century.

Clancy will be tasked with keeping a lid on things come Saturday lunchtime. The whistler has taken charge of four Rangers games this season and four Celtic matches. He was the man in the middle for their Scottish Cup fourth round win over Morton, in which he awarded a controversial penalty against Efe Ambrose after VAR suggested he take another look at a perceived handball.

Clancy has shown six red cards this season. Two of those came in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Hearts back in August, in which Alex Cochrane and Toby Sibbick were given their marching orders after both picked up two bookings late on.He also dismissed Danny Armstrong in Rangers’ 3-2 win at Rugby Park in January.

David McGeachie and Ross Macleod are the assistants. Walsh will be assisted in the Clydesdale House studio by Daniel McFarlane.

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