SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell has spoken out after refereeing confusion at both Ross County v Celtic and Hibs v Hamilton Accies over the weekend.

Bobby Madden was due to referee the Staggies’ home clash with Celtic but was replaced before kick-off after being deemed a close contact of someone with Covid-19. He, along with Graeme Stewart and David Roome, oversaw Panathinaikos v Olympiakos in Greece over a week ago.

Madden was due to ref Ross County v Celtic on Sunday night. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Roome has tested positive for Covid-19 but Stewart still ran as an assistant referee during the Hibs v Hamilton fixture. He is now self-isolating and Maxwell has explained the situation and an apology.

The SFA chief executive said: “While the circumstances are complex the reality is that under Scottish Government guidelines all match officials involved in the trip should be considered close contacts.
“I have reiterated that the positive case and subsequent contact tracing should have been undertaken in line with the Scottish Government’s guidelines and the established system utilised by ESCAG.
SFA chief Maxwell.

SFA chief executive Maxwell has had to issue an apology to both Hibs and Hamilton Accies following this ref debacle. (Photo by Bruce White/SNS Group via Getty Images)

“I have apologised to Hibernian and Hamilton Academical for the unnecessary risk of having an assistant referee at a match when he should have been self-isolating, however much it is mitigated by two negative tests in the build-up to the match.
“As part of an internal review, I have asked the respective departments to ensure we maintain the highest standards of compliance relevant to Scottish Government protocols.”
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