The Scottish Football Association has officially announced the refereeing team for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership showdown between Hibernian and Celtic at Easter Road, with both clubs preparing for a crucial encounter at opposite ends of the league table.

Ryan Lee has been selected as the match referee for the highly anticipated fixture. He will be assisted by Chris Rae and Scott Anderson, while Iain Snedden has been appointed as the fourth official.

Meanwhile, Nick Walsh will oversee the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, with Duncan Williams serving as his assistant. The appointments confirm the officials who will be responsible for managing the contest and reviewing potentially controversial incidents during the match.

Ryan Lee Handed Another Hibernian Assignment

Lee is no stranger to Hibernian, having already taken charge of one of their Scottish Premiership matches this season.

His previous assignment involving the Edinburgh club came on September 15, when Hibs suffered a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Kilmarnock. The referee will now return to oversee another important fixture for the club as they attempt to improve their fortunes.

Hibernian supporters will be hoping that the attention remains firmly on the football, particularly as their team prepares for a difficult challenge against the reigning Scottish giants.

Celtic Also Familiar With the Match Official

Celtic have also encountered Lee during the current Premiership campaign, with the referee overseeing two of their league victories.

The first was their impressive 5-1 triumph over Kilmarnock on August 9. Lee subsequently officiated Celtic’s 2-1 away victory against St Mirren on September 5.

His previous experience with both teams adds another dimension to Sunday’s contest, although the focus will ultimately be on how the players perform when the action gets underway.

With the stakes rising for both sides, the officials will be expected to maintain control of the match and make important decisions accurately throughout the 90 minutes.

Celtic Arrive in Impressive Form as Hibs Struggle

The meeting at Easter Road presents a significant contrast between the two clubs’ recent fortunes.

Celtic head into the encounter after delivering a remarkable 7-1 victory over Hearts, a result that underlined their attacking potential and strengthened their position among the leading contenders in the Scottish Premiership.

Hibernian, meanwhile, find themselves at the opposite end of the standings at the time of writing. Their recent defeat against Falkirk has left them bottom of the table, increasing the pressure on the team to respond positively.

Sunday’s fixture therefore represents an important opportunity for Celtic to maintain their momentum, while Hibs desperately need a result that could help them begin climbing away from the relegation danger zone.

Marink Reedijk Faces Immediate Pressure

The match will also be an important test for Hibernian’s new head coach, Marink Reedijk, who replaced David Gray in the dugout.

Reedijk will be eager to secure his first points since taking charge and give the supporters something to celebrate. However, facing a Celtic side fresh from scoring seven goals against Hearts represents a difficult introduction to the challenge ahead.

Hibs must find a way to tighten their defensive organisation while creating enough attacking opportunities to trouble their opponents. Any defensive mistakes could prove costly against a Celtic team that has recently demonstrated its ability to punish teams in front of goal.

For Celtic, the objective will be to build on their emphatic victory and avoid dropping points against a struggling opponent.

With the referee and VAR appointments now confirmed, attention turns to the action on the pitch.

Can Hibernian produce a major upset and give their new manager a much-needed boost, or will Celtic continue their impressive run with another convincing performance at Easter Road? Sunday’s encounter promises to be a significant test for both sides.