Top games go ahead despite referee crisis

STV
Double take: Luxembourg's Alain Hamer has refereed the first of his two games.©SNS Group

All four football clashes in Scotland's SPL went ahead today, despite the referee crisis that has rocked the national game.

Only one other fixture across the leagues survived the strike action, while the Scottish Cup Third Round replay between Beith and Airdrie United was postponed due to the adverse weather.

There was a last-minute panic when Portuguese officials followed their Polish counterparts and pulled out of their agreement to step into the breach.

And Alain Haimer of Luxembourg touched down in Glasgow just hours before taking charge of his first game of the weekend at Parkhead, where Celtic hosted Inverness Caley Thistle.

But he completed the job without major incident, and will now officiate at Tannadice tomorrow where Dundee United welcome Rangers.

The crisis was sparked three weeks ago when referee Dougie McDonald admitted lying about changing his mind over a spot kick in a game between Celtic and Dundee United.