Celtic fans were disgusted when John Beaton awarded Hearts a penalty at Tynecastle today.
There was absolutely no contact between Jamie Walker and Kieran Tierney with Beaton, who appeared unsighted, racing into the penalty area with his hand pointing to the spot.
In some ways it was incredible but in other ways it was typical of the sort of detached decisions made by officials with Beaton a member of Willie Collum’s support team at Euro 2016 in France.
For reasons known only to themselves the current batch of referees seem determined to make decisions when there are no decisions to make.
If Beaton hadn’t decided to award a penalty there would have been no protest from the Hearts players or fans, just a sigh of relief that Walker hadn’t been booked for a third rate dive in the penalty box.
Much of the comment on twitter was unrepeatable, below is a selection of the comments that followed the decision with Walker getting up to send his penalty kick past Craig Gordon to cancel out James Forrest’s eighth minute opener.
Beaton booked seven Hearts player but issued no red cards with Scott Sinclair, on as a second half substitute scoring the winner in the 81st minute.
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PENALTY! Controversial penalty call for Hearts? But nothing dubious about Jamie Walker’s finish. Hearts 1 Celtic 1 pic.twitter.com/FkBsmorNI7
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) August 7, 2016
That pen was cheating from the player and the ref. Shocking!
— John G (@TicV67) August 7, 2016
What a diving wee shite!! #HeartsVCeltic #CelticFC https://t.co/nm4TMFh79J by @wee_kezza via @c0nvey
— charles donaghy (@charlesdonaghy) August 7, 2016
same old Ref pish.. yesterday Ref intimidation(5Bookings) for Hamilton.. today … a shocking penalty decision ~~~ CORRUPT Scotland
— The Celtic Way (@thecelticway) August 7, 2016
Controversy at Tynecastle as Hearts player trips over a blade of Lee Wallace to win penalty
— Tony Hadley CSC (@Stevedubwin) August 7, 2016
How does the ref give that, KT didn’t touch it him and the ref can’t even see it!
— Paul Gill (@paulg1986) August 7, 2016
Honest mistakes at the SFA have an objective. Please continue interest and support in Resolution 12. #SFA
— Morrisseythe23rd (@Morrissey23rd) August 7, 2016
Jamie walker should be embarrassed.
— Jamie Langfield (@jamlang22) August 7, 2016