Collum replaces Thomson as Easter Road referee

By Adam Higgins
Jul 25, 2015
2 min read

WILLIE Collum has replaced Craig Thomson as the referee for the Petrofac Training Cup 1st round tie between Hibernian and Rangers at Easter Road.

The change was confirmed by the Scottish Professional Football League on Friday, with 36-year-old Collum now in charge of Saturday's lunchtime match (KO 12:30pm, live on BBC ALBA).

Thomson was originally appointed when the selections for the first round of the competition for Championship, League One and League Two clubs were made earlier this week.

But it is understood that the 42-year-old has been taken ill and was unable to take charge of the game between the two Scottish Championship rivals.

Unhappy: A Hibs-associated Twitter account didn't appear to like the referee change

The other officials have remained the same with Graham Chambers and Stuart Stevenson the assistant referees and fourth official Barry Cook.

Earlier this month, Collum - a Religious Education teacher from Belshill - was given the honour of officiating the prestigious Uefa Super Cup between La Liga sides Barcelona and Sevilla in Tbilisi on August 11.

The Glasgow-born father of four was criticised by Hibs boss Alan Stubbs in March for failing to spot a foul by Lee Wallace on Paul Hanlon in the build-up to Kenny Miller's clinching goal for Rangers in their 2-0 victory at Easter Road.

Last season, he issued a massive 144 yellow cards, sent off 17 players and awarded 22 penalties across 49 games in all competitions.

Domestic experience: Collum also refereed the 2012 Scottish League Cup Final (Picture from Sky Sports)

It will be revealed on Tuesday whether Collum and Thomson - the two Uefa Elite Category officials in Scotland - will take charge of a Scottish Premiership match on the opening weekend.

Hibernian and Rangers, who met on seven occasions last season, are expected to compete for the title and automatic promotion to the Premiership this term.

The Challenge Cup tie in the capital represents former Brentford boss Mark Warburton's first competitive game as Gers boss.

Rangers beat Hibs 2-1 at this stage of the competition a year ago after extra time at Ibrox and prevailed by the same scoreline over two legs in the play-off semi-finals in May before being thrashed 6-1 on aggregate by Motherwell in the final.