Scottish referee Bobby Madden back in international action following fight with cancer

BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport

SCOTTISH referee Bobby Madden will oversee his first international fixture since a brave battle with cancer when Portugal face Latvia on Sunday.

The highly-rated whistler missed two months of action after undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer, making his comeback in Livingston’s 3-0 win at Brechin City on October 29.

Madden, 38, was subsequently included in Craig Thomson’s team of officials for Atletico Madrid’s Champions League triumph against Rostov, before taking charge of Aberdeen’s 2-1 win against Partick Thistle last Friday.

However, this weekend will represent a return to the top-table in his own right for the FIFA referee as he oversees the reigning champions of Europe in their World Cup qualifier against the Baltic minnows at the Estadio Algarve in Faro.

Madden, who was part of Willie Collum’s team at Euro 2016, will be assisted by compatriots David McGeachie and Stuart Stevenson, with Steven McLean acting as fourth official.