BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
BOBBY MADDEN has been handed a Europa League clash in the cauldron of Belgrade – hot on the heels of his controversial outing at Tynecastle.
The Scottish whistler will oversee Crvena zvezda’s home encounter against German cracks FC Koln on Thursday, with the winners of the fixture guaranteed to qualify from Group H alongside Arsenal.
It means there is no respite for Madden, who was at the centre of the action on Saturday as Hearts played out an ill-tempered 1-1 draw against Hamilton.
He dished out a red card to Jamie Brandon, sent Hearts manager Craig Levein to the stand for perceived petulance and dismissed assistant Austin MacPhee for wrestling with Accies man Darian MacKinnon.
Levein subsequently accused the official of losing control of the contest, while it has been confirmed this week that no-one from the Jambos coaching staff will face further punishment.
Madden will be assisted by compatriots David McGeachie and Alastair Mather, with Don Robertson and Euan Anderson acting as additional assistant referees. Frank Connor has been named fourth official.
Fellow SPFL regular John Beaton has also been assigned a crucial fixture in the final match-day of the Europa League group phase.
Beaton will travel to Turkey to take charge of Istanbul Basaksehir’s game against already-qualified Braga.
The hosts, who count Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Adebayor among their ranks, must claim victory and pray Hoffenheim defeat Ludogorets Razgrad to have any hope of progressing to the last-32.
Douglas Potter and Sean Carr will run the line for Beaton, Steven McLean and Alan Muir are additional assistants and Jordan Stokoe will be fourth official at the Fatih Terim Stadium.
