BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
WILLIE Collum’s first match in charge at Euro 2016 is a high-profile one after he was appointed to referee host nation France at the scene of the weekend crowd trouble involving England and Russia.
Collum, who cut his teeth at the tournament as fourth official at yesterday’s 1-0 win for Croatia against Turkey, will be the man in the middle when favourites France take on Albania in the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Wednesday.
The stadium was the scene of England’s action-packed 1-1 draw with Russia on Saturday night, an encounter that was preceded by horrific violence between opposing supporters in the city and was followed by further ugly clashes inside the stadium after the full-time whistle.
Collum will be assisted by Ireland’s Damien MacGraith and Scotsman Francis Connor, with fellow SPFL whistlers Bobby Madden and John Beaton as additional assistant referees and England’s Michael Oliver as fourth official.
Madden made his debut at the championships as fourth official at Germany’s 2-0 win over Ukraine last night, when Connor was also a reserve official for the match refereed by England’s Martin Atkinson.
@IainCollin
