The SFA have confirmed Willie Collum will take charge of the Edinburgh Derby this Sunday.
Collum, a divisive figure amongst Scottish football fans, will be assisted by Frank Connor & Douglas Ross with the fourth official named as John Beaton.
The 38 year old FIFA Elite level referee has been the man in the middle for 3 Hibs matches so far this season with his last being the 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Easter Road last month. His other games in charge were also both in Leith- a 2-1 Scottish Challenge Cup defeat to St Mirren and a 2-1 win against Dunfermline back in August.
He’s taken charge of a similar amount of Hearts games this season; a 2-1 win over Partick, 2-2 draw against Ross County and the recent 1-0 loss to Aberdeen at Tynecastle.
Overall, both domestically and in Europe, he’s taken charge of 29 matches showing 85 yellow cards at an average of just under 3 a game whilst he’s dished out 7 reds in those encounters.
The last Edinburgh Derby he took charge of was in August 2014, a game which ended 2-1 to the Jambo’s thanks to goals from Sam Nicholson and Prince Bauben and incidentally the Gorgie side’s last victory in the fixture with Hibs undefeated in five clashes since.
Collum was a busy man during his last derby encounter, handing out 7 yellow cards and a red card to either side with Scott Robertson ordered off for the Hibees for fouling Bauben and Osman Sow dismissed for violent conduct for the Tynecastle outfit. He also awarded a penalty to either side with Liam Craig missing for The Hibees and Bauben converting for Hearts.
