BY IAIN COLLIN – @CCP_sport
WILLIE Collum will fly the flag for Scotland at Euro 2016 today when he assumes centre stage in the trouble hotspot of Marseille.
The Scots referee will take charge of the second outing of hosts France as they take on Albania in the Stade Velodrome this evening.
The 37-year-old’s first involvement at the tournament was in the role of fourth official for Croatia’s 1-0 victory over Turkey on Sunday, when Swedish whistler Jonas Eriksson dished out four yellow cards in a match most notable for Luka Modric’s stunning winning volley.
Collum, who has had to deal with several controversial moments domestically, will be hoping for a trouble-free 90 minutes as Marseille hosts its first game since the horrific hooliganism that blighted England’s clash with Russia on Saturday.
The fighting that had scarred the build-up to the tie spilled over into the stadium itself when Russian thugs charged England fans at the full-time whistle, leading to warnings that both countries could be thrown out of the competition if there are any repeats.
Collum will be assisted at tonight’s Group A match by Francis Connor and Ireland’s Damien MacGraith, with fellow SPFL whistlers Bobby Madden and John Beaton as additional assistant referees and England’s Michael Oliver as fourth official.
