Who is Calum Scott? Referee's rise from police protection to Scottish Cup semi (2025)

The whistler will take charge as Celtic face St Johnstone in a huge Hampden showcase on April 20

Rookie ref Calum Scott has been handed the whistle for Celtic's Scottish Cup semi-final with St Johnstone with just 16 top flight matches under his belt – and there's a captivating story behind his rise to the top.

The Hampden showcase marks the latest achievement for a rising star of the SFA's ranks. It's understood that Scott has impressed refereeing chiefs and his latest appointment comes after being awarded the women's Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Hearts last season.

Scott has taken charge of just 12 Premiership matches this season, and just 16 in total, and has been largely drama free - awarding just two penalties and not dishing out a single red card in his top flight outings so far this campaign.

However he's no stranger to an entirely different type of headline after being given a police guard in 2018 after a bad-tempered Junior Cup match between Glenafton and Cambuslang Rangers boiled over.

The whistler - a policeman himself - requested for officers to attend the match at Loch Park in New Cumnock, Ayrshire, and claimed he suffered a stomach wound after being attacked.

At the time the Daily Record reported that officers were asked to maintain a presence at his Glasgow home in case of any reprisals, given the ferocity of the threats he faced during the disgraceful end to the match.

The flare-up came 35 minutes into the West of Scotland Premier Division clash when ref Scott awarded a penalty to Glenafton.

A brawl broke out, leading to one Cambuslang player being sent off. Moments later another a team-mate was red-carded, allegedly for trying to headbutt the match official.

Scott hasn't let the incident derail his career however, as he started a rapid rise up the leagues - taking charge of his first SPFL game in 2019 when 10-man Stirling Albion lost to Queen's Park in League Two. His first Premiership game came in August 2023 when St Johnstone, also down to 10 men defeated Kilmarnock 2-1.

And the rapid rise has also seen Scott in charge of an international friendly. Well, sort of, as he was the man in the middle as England C defeated Wales C 1-0 in a match for semi-pro players.

This season however he has faced the wrath of Celtic hero Scott Brown, who let rip after he blew for a controversial penalty eight minutes from time in a match between Ayr United and Partick Thistle. He tipped Brown over the edge when ruling out a last minute leveller for the Honest Men in Maryhill.

Back in December he raged: "The referee wanted to make it about himself today and he did a really good job of that. He wouldn't let us talk to him - I went to try and speak to him at the end and got exactly the same treatment.

"It's good as a player when you can have a little bit of banter with a referee. Bobby Madden was the best at it during my time - he would push you to the side and say 'shut up!'

"But the ref today was disrespectful to every one of our players with the way he went on. I've no idea why he booked me - I was calm and collected."

The Hampden semi-final will be just the second match Scott has taken charge of that involves Celtic - and that could be a good omen for the Hoops, who have scored five in both matches.

He was in charge for the hard-fought 5-2 win against Championship high-fliers Falkirk in September, as well as 5-0 rout of Ross County at Parkhead two months later.

Saints meanwhile were the hosts for his first Premiership match, a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock in a game they finished with 10 men after Dara Costelloe was dismissed. But haven't won any of the other three he's been in charge of - which includes a humiliating League Cup loss to League One Stenhousemuir in July.

On the day the man in the middle will have plenty of experienced back-up however, with Andrew Dallas on VAR duties. He's assisted by Alan Mulvanny. On the park Graeme Stewart and Dougie Potter will be the assistants.