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.

A U-turn by Polish and Portuguese authorities, who had agreed to send referees, means Hamer has been handed two matches, and the SFA gave him the biggest ones.

Hamer is well known to Scottish football fans following his performance in Scotland’s 4-0 defeat to Norway in August last year.

The Scots were level in the crunch World Cup qualifier until the 34th minute when Hamer booked then Celtic defender Caldwell for the second time in two minutes.

Scotland captain Darren Fletcher was among those who criticised Hamer, saying: “That’s so hard to take because you expect top referees to be in charge of games as important as this one. There’s a World Cup at stake.”

However, before leaving Oslo, Hamer said: “I might come from Luxembourg but they should know that I referee mostly in the top leagues in France and Belgium.

“I refereed the game between the same two sides four years ago in Oslo when Scotland won 2-1. Funnily enough there was no criticism of me after that game.”

Hamer, 44, has been taking charge of Champions League matches for 10 seasons, the latest on Wednesday when Hapoel Tel Aviv beat Benfica 3-0.