Celtic fans have rallied around Tom Boyd following his comments about John Beaton during Saturday’s 2-1 Betfred Cup win over Dunfermline.
When a Mikey Johnston shot was handled by the onrushing Josh Coley there was no need for VAR or an explanation about the new hand ball rules.
The Dunfermline player raised his arms, they were in an unnatural position and a net-bound shot was deflected for a corner. Beaton indicated that Coley had used his head!
Boyd described the incident accurately, mentioned that it wasn’t the first incident like that involving Beaton and also that he’s ‘probably welcome down his pub tonight, again’. Keith Jackson has interpreted that comment into something quite different
That comment seems to have been enough to upset a number of pundits with the Daily Record publishing a classic attack on the messenger rather than look at the decision he was discussing.
Jackson writes:
Which is precisely why the heart sunk just a little bit on Saturday afternoon when Tom Boyd appeared to make a rallying cry to the most combustible elements in Celtic’s support, live on the club’s own online TV channel.
As part of his co-commentator duties during the Betfred Cup win over Dunfermline, he took it upon himself to launch into a hugely regrettable and wholly vitriolic attack on match official John Beaton after the ref had failed to award Celtic with a fairly blatant looking penalty kick.
That Boyd had every right to feel unhappy about the decision is not really up for debate. The newly drafted handball rules made this one a stone-waller and, therefore, a bad one for Beaton and his assistant to miss.
But, by going one step further than the situation required, Boyd predictably pandered to the lowest common denominator. “Probably be welcomed down his pub the night again,” bemoaned Boyd with heavy hint of snide. To be clear, what Boyd means is that Beaton is a Rangers supporter who goes out of his way to disadvantage Celtic in return for the adulation of his Rangers supporting pals.
Jackson had his Celtic Park media accreditation restored last season after a ban dating back to Ronny Deila’s time as manager.
Boyd said nothing of the sort, Jackson makes his own conclusion. Perhaps following the English example of excluding match officials from being involved in fixtures effecting the club that they support would assist Scottish officials.
Last season Scott McKenna, Dolly Menga, Steven McLean, Darnell Johnson and Ryan Kent were given retrospective red cards for missing incidents in matches against Celtic. Jon Flanagan successfully appealed against the retrospective red card he was given for elbowing Scott Brown.
If the SFA examined those incidents and introduced VAR perhaps Beaton and others might be spared having their mistakes highlighted.
Should they decided to charge Boyd or Celtic there is a rather unfortunate precedent set by Steven Gerrard a year ago that was conveniently ignored by the SFA.
To be honest, Tom Boyd needs to rein it in a bit.
Remember when he said decisions have been going against us for years and it needed explaining?
Sorry, did I say Tom Boyd? I meant Steven Gerrard. pic.twitter.com/szXXsWBgJF
— Celtic F1rst (@CelticF1rst) August 18, 2019
MSM making a big deal about Tom Boyd stating facts!!!! A convenient distraction from the £444k owed by their darlings last Friday……
— Neville Carolan (@Nev_C) August 18, 2019
No media out rage when the ref is celebrating with rangers fans but Tom boyd says he’ll be welcome back in that pub and your all up in arms. You need to have a look at yourselves
— untilthelasttreble (@SeanLee84) August 19, 2019
Tom Boyd.
Driving the Scottish media to the edge since captaining Celtic when they stopped the 10 ???? pic.twitter.com/QZ1bMxUVgf— Highland__Paddy (@Highland__paddy) August 18, 2019
