You’d expect John Beaton to know the laws of the game- Sutton calls him out

Chris Sutton wasn’t slow to deliver his verdict on John Beaton’s decision to disallow a goal from Daizen Maeda that should have stood. 

With Celtic leading 1-0 away to Dundee United the next goal was going to be vital with Maeda sliding the ball into the net from close range. 

In the moments before he netted the ball had bounced off the leg of a Dundee United defender, the boot of Giakoumakis and off the arm of the Greek striker. 

Straight away co-commentator Stephen Craigan cited cases in England where those type of goals had stood but Beaton had his own interpretation of what had happened. 

Picking up on the half-time discussion between Sutton and Michael Stewart on Premier Sports, the Daily Record reports Sutton saying: 

He’s the best player in the world, Giakoumakis, if he can kick the ball under his arm and deflect it in Maeda’s path. You’d expect John Beaton to know the laws of the game. That’s the bottom line and he clearly didn’t. 

Craigan is unlikely to win many contests as a pundit but the former Motherwell defender knew instantly that the goal had stood. 

When a television pundit has a clearer understanding of the Laws of the Game it really is time for the SFA to come up with an explanation for the decision of their official.