Pressure is being mounted on John Beaton over an incident in a meaningless match at the end of last season.
Just 1,629 fans are reported to have attended Livingston’s 2-1 win over Dundee on May 15, the day after Celtic had been presented with the SPFL trophy in front of 60,000 fans.
Three yellow cards were handed out in the match which meant nothing to any team in the division but somehow Beaton appears to have got involved with a fan to such an extent that the Compliance Officer of the SFA is still investigating more than two months after the match.
The Daily Express reports:
Two former leading officials reckon the book should be thrown at top referee John Beaton if he is found guilty of abusing a supporter.
Scottish Express Sport broke the news last week that Beaton is facing an SFA probe for comments alleged to have been made at the Livingston-Dundee game on the final day of last season, May 15. We understands the compliance officer Andrew Phillips is looking into it.
Former officials Steve Conroy and Des Roache admit they’ve been stunned by the claims and warned “hell mend him” if they are substantiated. Conroy said on the Get Involved Referee podcast: “I’ve never come across that before. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what happened but I’d be bitterly disappointing if one of our most senior and experienced officials let himself down.
Beaton will be in the spotlight on Sunday when he referees the Hibs v Hearts match at Easter Road in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
The SFA are normally supportive of the refereeing fraternity but the Express seem to be onto something that might see Beaton spending more time in the Crown Bar in Bellshill watching his favourite team.
CLICK HERE for full match details on the Livingston v Dundee match.
So he did something wrong which inquire an investigation and possible suspension.
But somehow they won’t put him on non-active?
This shows what is wrong with the SFA.
For various reasons this person is not fit to referee in Scottish football, the chief of these being that he is not an impartial adjudicator given his ties and association with one club, which becomes evident on the field of play when he and they are involved.
This has been confirmed by his now infamous post match behaviour.
If found guilty of abusing a supporter he should be banned sine die.