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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
Sport
James Delaney

Controversial Celtic v Hibs clash selected for Sky Sports coverage after SPFL row

The disputed January clash between Hibernian and Celtic at Parkhead has been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports - just a week on from a row over the rescheduling of the fixture.

Easter Road chief executive Leeann Dempster was left "fizzing" when SPFL bosses accepted a bid from the Glasgow side to move the clash back by more than 48 hours so that Neil Lennon's men could jet off for a warm weather training camp at world class facility in Dubai, despite Hibs' opposition.

League chiefs later issued a clarification stating that their policy was to favour the home team in scenarios where a bid to change the date of game was submitted, meaning the game, previously set to kick off at 3pm on January 9, was given a new date of January 11 with a 7:45pm start time.

But Hibs boss Jack Ross blasted that explanation as "weak," adding less than an hour was granted for the Leith outfit to register their unhappiness at the decision.

He said: "I was surprised. I disagreed with the decision to move that fixture.

"It’s nothing to do with Celtic and they were well within their rights to request it, but it's an SPFL decision and I think their reasoning and explanation is weak."

The match has now been chosen as part of Sky's run of games over the December and January period.

Hibs' trip to Ibrox on Boxing Day to face Premiership leaders Rangers had previously been chosen for coverage, while the return fixture is also set to be broadcast live.

Steven Gerrard's men travel to Easter Road on Wednesday, January 27 with that game kicking off at 7:45pm.

Sky January live games in full:

Sun Jan 10: Aberdeen v Rangers, Kick-off 4.30pm

Mon Jan 11 : Celtic v Hibernian, Kick-off 7.45pm

Sun Jan 17 : Motherwell v Rangers, Kick-off 12 noon

Wed Jan 20 : Livingston v Celtic, Kick-off 8.15pm

Sun Jan 24 : St Mirren v Celtic, Kick-off 4.30pm

Wed Jan 27 : Hibernian v Rangers, Kick-off 7.45pm

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