Last week John Beaton was talking an unquestioning media through the benefits of VAR as the Scottish football authorities kick that particular can further into the long grass.
A media conference gives the impression that things are moving forward, just like a summit between referees and managers in January 2019.
VAR can do many things but only match officials can implement the rules in play, as he demonstrated at Tannadice on Monday Beaton doesn’t understand or want to understand the issue of handball.
In the first half he wrongly disallowed a ‘goal’ from Daizen Maeda for a handball that he spotted by Giorgos Giakoumakis. Late in the second half no handball was awarded against Ross Graham when he raised his right arm to deflect a cross away from Matt O’Riley.
Beaton’s mistakes have been followed since he denied Albion Rovers a Scottish Cup win at Ibrox in 2014 when Bilel Mohsni used his hand then his body to bundle the ball and Rovers keeper into the net to earn the League One club a replay which they got through in.
This season Hibs and Aberdeen have suffered from late penalty decisions awarded against them but with Beaton fronting up the latest VAR initiative it looks like he’ll be making mistakes for some time to come.
Hamilton guy gives Beaton a decision to make here, you can’t really go near Rangers players in the box.
Definitely contact near the player.Fortunate to have a decision to make.
Very fortunate.
I noticed the ground very close to the Rangers players foot, coincidence? pic.twitter.com/XSVd5p7hRW— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 15, 2022
John Beaton with a Penalty for Hearts.
Maybe he didn’t see it? I dnt know.
Who knows?
May have been a rule change since then that means fresh air dive penalties have been clamped down on?Tierney gave Beaton a decision 2 make moving his leg near a Hearts player, that I DO know. pic.twitter.com/aUElcLuFWp
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 15, 2022
He sees that handball, and missed this one. https://t.co/FlNsh83eRH
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 15, 2022
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) March 15, 2022
I’ll see your soft penalty of the year and raise you Ryan Kent V hibs ?? pic.twitter.com/Fn32pPkznI
— Stephen Maher (@mugsymaher) January 18, 2022
“Very Soft” seems to be the phrase of choice for commentators and pundits too feart to call it as it actually is…a terrible decision with no merit whatsoever.
“Too Soft” gives the decision some kind of validity when it should be called exactly as it is…wrong!