Another Celtic Park first due tomorrow as SFA confirm refereeing assignments

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David Dickinson has been announced as the primary referee for Celtic’s Scottish Premiership match against Dundee United tomorrow, just the second ever Hoops game that the whistler will have officiated, and his first in Paradise.

He previously took charge of Celtic’s 5-0 annihilation of Kilmarnock at Rugby Park earlier this season – a match in which he issued six yellow cards – and was the fourth official for the Hoops’ 4-0 win in Paisley in 2021.

The 42-year-old had mostly officiated in Scotland’s lower leagues in his career until last season, whereby he’s more consistently been assigned Scottish Premiership games.

As confirmed on the SFA website, he’ll be joined by Alan Mulvanny and Alastair Mather, in addition to Chris Graham the fourth official.

The VAR team will be made up of Nick Walsh and Sean Carr, with the technology also being used for the first time at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership.

Despite Davidson’s lack of experience officiating Celtic matches, his regular use in the Premiership demonstrates that he’s no amateur, but he’ll be looking for a quiet one after a stormy couple of weeks for officials following VAR’s introduction last month.

VAR likely to remain the focus until the World Cup

Though VAR’s introduction to the league was never likely to go smoothly, the controversy of its opening weekend in Scotland still hangs in the air.

Celtic have conceded two penalties and won one of their own in just 180 domestic minutes under the technology’s watchful eye, and after conceding another pair in midweek at the Bernabeu for their final Champions League match, it’s a habit they’ll do well to shake with three crucial Premiership matches still to go before the World Cup.

Of course, Celtic aren’t the only team playing tomorrow, and Dundee United will be scrapping for points to try and put some daylight between themselves and bottom-of-the-table Ross County, as the two currently only sit apart on goal difference.

Here’s hoping that it’s another fine domestic showing, rather than VAR, that’s the subject of discussion after tomorrow’s game, and that Celtic can bounce back in style to Wednesday’s defeat in Madrid.

In other news: On-loan Celtic man set for supporter reception as he gears up for controversial return