Sunday will see Rangers face Celtic for the final time this season, but the Old Firm task has been made more complicated by the SFA’s latest decision.
With the incoming 49ers Enterprises takeover, Rangers fans would probably like to see the back of the 24/25 season and skip ahead to a summer of rebuild at Ibrox, but there is still one more meeting with Celtic to handle first.
After Rangers beat Celtic 3-2 in March, Barry Ferguson will be hoping to replicate one of his best days in the job and help The Gers to a third consecutive Old Firm victory, which would add a sweet taste to an otherwise bitter season.
The win saw Rangers regain the lead in the Old Firm head-to-head record, but adding to that lead has been made more difficult by who has been appointed to referee the clash.
SFA make Rangers vs Celtic referee decision
Ahead of Sunday’s match at Ibrox, the SFA have announced that Nick Walsh will take charge of the Old Firm, nearly four months on from his widely-criticised officiating display in Rangers’ 3-1 win over Dundee United.
Walsh sent off Mohamed Diomande for being adjudged to have hit Kevin Holt, despite all replays suggesting nothing of the sort occurred, leading to Kris Boyd labelling the Diomande red embarrassing.
VAR didn’t overturn the Diomande red card, which was made even more bizarre after Rangers’ appeal was heard and the decision was overturned, bringing Walsh’s use of VAR into question.
Andrew Dallas will be on VAR duty for the Old Firm to hopefully be on hand if Walsh makes a similar mistake. This might not make a difference, though, as Rangers have a horrific record against Celtic when Walsh is in the centre circle.
Rangers’ shocking Old Firm record with Nick Walsh in charge
Walsh suffered no punishment for the Diomande blunder, taking Celtic’s clash with Dundee United after the well-documented error.
Seeing the official get the nod for Sunday carries even more of a concern for Gers fans, though, as their side have a horrifying record against Celtic when Walsh is in charge.
| Date | Result |
| 2nd of May 2021 | Rangers 4-1 Celtic |
| 3rd of September 2022 | Celtic 4-0 Rangers |
| 26th February 2023 (Viaplay Cup final) | Rangers 1-2 Celtic |
| 30th December 2023 | Celtic 2-1 Rangers |
| 25th May 2024 (Scottish Cup final) | Celtic 1-0 Rangers |
Including two cup final defeats, Walsh has overseen five consecutive Celtic victories in the Old Firm, leaving his disastrous officiating against Dundee United an afterthought.
The Rangers manager has already shown that he can outclass Brendan Rodgers and restore bragging rights to the club, so hopefully he’ll be able to break this horrific run of defeats and end the season with something to cheer.
