SFA order probe into John Beaton comments

John Beaton is at the centre of an SFA probe. 

The Lanarkshire referee is believed to have made inappropriate comments to a fan at the end of season match between Livingston and Dundee. The previous day Celtic had lifted the SPFL Premiership trophy sparking joyful scenes in many areas. 

Beaton is in the untouchable SFA elite, promoted way beyond his ability on the nod of the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association that has produced Hugh Dallas, Andrew Dallas, Willie Collum and Bobby Madden. 

Two months after the incident, The Express reports: 

Referee John Beaton is at the centre of a Scottish FA investigation over claims he said something out of turn to a supporter on the final weekend of last season. 

Scottish Express Sport can reveal that the governing body is looking into the incident which is alleged to have taken place at the Tony Macaroni Arena on May 15 when Livingston took on Dundee in the last match of the SPFL Premiership campaign. 

Already doomed Dundee, who had announced ahead of the match that Mark McGhee was parting company with the club, took the lead in the game through Josh Mulligan but Livi came back to win 2-1 with goals from Andrew Shinnie and Alan Forrest, in what was his last game for the club ahead of his move to Hearts. 

Beaton booked three players in the game. He flashed a yellow card at Mulligan for a foul on Odin Bailey early in the game and then he cautioned Livi’s Christian Montano for diving after a challenge with Jordan Marshall when running towards goal when there were calls for the Dundee defender to be sent off. Marshall was later booked in the game. 

It is understood that compliance officer Andrew Phillips has been asked to look into the claim that the leading ref made some unsavoury comments to a spectator. However, this has not yet been confirmed by the SFA. 

The article is written by Lindsay Herron who helps with a podcast by former referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache.