Old Firm ref is Hamer of the Scots

LUXEMBOURG’S Alain Hamer will referee both halves of the Old Firm this weekend after the Scottish Football Association scrambled across Europe to find replacement officials.

Hamer, the man who put a huge dent in Scotland’s unsuccessful World Cup campaign last year by sending off Gary Caldwell in Oslo, came to the SFA’s rescue after their own category one referees withdrew their labour.

The experienced Hamer will take charge of Celtic’s SPL clash against Inverness today before he and his two assistants from Luxembourg cover Rangers’ trip to Dundee United tomorrow.