Rangers vs Benfica to have 'the worst referee ever' who became Celtic villain TWICE and suffered wrath of Van Dijk

A referee once branded as the ‘worst ever’ by ex-Celtic hero Virgil van Dijk will take charge of Rangers’ crucial Europa League last 16 clash with Benfica.

Slovakian Ivan Kruzliak, 39, has been appointed as the match official for Thursday’s Ibrox clash with the tie finely poised at 2-2. And while it will be his first visit to Scotland, he has hit the headlines for unwanted reasons both times he has officiated in matches involved Rangers’ rivals Celtic. In 2015, Celtic lodged an official complaint with UEFA about his performance in a 1-0 loss against Inter Milan - which saw eight players booked and Van Dijk sent off for a double yellow.

Celts crashed out 4-3 on aggregate with Van Dijk fuming at Kruzliak’s performance. Initially booked for a foul on Rodrigo Palacio, Van Dijk was controversially sent off after just 36 minutes for a challenge on Mauro Icardi. At the time, the current Liverpool star said: “It was a terrible decision. That is the worst referee I have ever experienced in my career.

“I don’t know why he made this decision but it was shocking. But I watched the whole game and I don’t understand all of the decisions he made.”

Kruzliak came back to haunt Hoops again last year as they suffered another defeat on the road. He overturned an original yellow card to give Celtic star Daizen Maeda a red following a lengthy VAR review in their 6-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid in November 2023.

With just 21 minutes on the clock, Celtic were 1-0 down, as Maeda caught Mario Hermoso late with his challenge. At the time, ex-Celtic star John Hartson told TNT Sports: “I don’t think that’s a red card. Nowhere near it. Hermoso has done his damnedest to get Maeda sent-off.”

Bratislava-born Kruzliak has averaged just under