GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 07: Referee John Beaton and Willie Collum during a cinch Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on April 07, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
At Hampden on Sunday Celtic will come up against the man mainly responsible for their last domestic defeat, away to Hearts on March 2.
It wasn’t the best of performances from Brendan Rodgers’ side but the day after Motherwell had won at Ibrox John Beaton turned in a VAR performance that was described as incompetent by the Celtic manager.
Rodgers has never backed down or apologised for his comments.
It wasn’t a one off, he used the phrase incompetent in post match interviews with Sky Sports, BBC Scotland and in the general post match media conference.
Sixteen minutes into the match Yang Hyun-jun raised his boot as he was charged at by Alex Cochrane. Match referee Don Robertson decided that it was a yellow card but after being told to review it by Beaton on VAR the decision was upgraded to a red card.
When a colleague is requested to review an incident on the monitor there is a 95% chance that they will accept the verdict from their refereeing colleague. Harmony, backing and support is the backbone of the refereeing fraternity.
With Celtic down to 10 men Beaton upped his game just before half-time with a bizarre decision to review an incident involving Tomoki Iwata, Robertson trotted pitchside and decided to award Hearts a penalty which gave them the lead.
Celtic lost the match 2-0, afterwards Rodgers opted out of the diplomatic approach to say it out loud about the performance of the Bellshill based official.
The Scotsman reports Rodgers saying:
I also think as well that VAR is not the problem here, that’s clear. It’s competence. And I think the first one is a great example of the game being refereed outside of the pitch. This is the thing everyone is talking about, that the officials do their job and if it’s something that’s clear and obvious maybe step in. The referee made the decision and someone outside made another decision to say it was a sending off. So that’s the game being refereed outside of the field and in big games that costs you.
I’m not one who comes crying about referees, be it here or the EPL, because I understand there will be mistakes made. But that today was awful officiating in what was a big game for us.
Asked if it was the worst officiating that he had experienced in Scotland (which includes Beaton’s Alfredo Morelos masterclass at Ibrox in December 2018) the Celtic boss didn’t hesitate with his answer:
I think so. In my time up here I’m not one to have a go at refs because I understand it’s a very very difficult position they are in. I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt.
But I think when I see that level of incompetence is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game. In such a tight title race, which it is and it’s fantastic and great to be involved in, that can make the difference. And that today made the difference for us.
After being handed a one match touchline ban from the SFA Rodgers was in no mood to back down from his comments after the match at Tynecastle.
The Sun reported Rodgers saying:
No, I just think there’s been a misunderstanding of interpretation. In all my time when I’ve been in Scotland I’ve talked about standard and improving standards, whether it’s about VAR on this occasion or whether it was about [transfer] fees or the pitches we play on.
Following his role at Tynecastle Crawford Allan rewarded Beaton with two of Celtic’s next five SPFL matches, away at Ibrox and Dens Park.
Willie Collum has picked up on that pattern by putting the man from Bellshill in charge of the first two Glasgow Derbies of this season, something that happens very rarely.
With a full card of fixtures across three competitions this week UEFA didn’t select Beaton for any of their matches, this season he has refereed three Europa League ties, one Conference League match and one Champions League qualifier back in August.
Scottish referees have been left out of officiating at the World Cup and European Championships since 2016 when Collum was ditched after two matches at the Euros in France.
Standard deflection from Nicholson as he refuses to back up the Celtic manager.
Let’s see…So John Beaton…after refereeing an us v them game…goes into his local Sevco boozer…mingles with Bears…has a pint and smiles for the camera…Nothing to see here folks…Let’s move on…So Kevin Clancy …after refereeing us v them..goes into the Brazen Head…mingles with the Tims…has a pint and a smile for the camera….Nothing to…Wait a minute…A dirty Fenian Republican referee drinking in a Tim’s pub after the game…??…Somebody get the polis…This is a scandal….This should never be forgotten…Aye.. Bonnie Scotland right enough.
‘Level of incompetence’ is the only phrase the manager can use when an official’s performance suggests something far worse.
We all know ‘it’s a funny old game’ at times,
and whilst on paper we should easily swat sevco away tomorrow…
we’re playing on hybrid grass – and the real uncertainty is around the match officials’ performances.
In any – competently – governed sport, match officials shouldn’t even be talked about?
Naw they shouldn’t Bob…But this is Scotland…
Mind yer place !!
VAR, while not perfect, has reduced the bias somewhat. They are now held to account much more, and scrutinised by other refs too. Blatant bigoted idiots, such as Beaton, now have less reign over a game, although the still trying.
VAR helps, if you doubt that, how many penalties/ goals has Tav had since it’s introduction? ?
EDITOR: Getting the fixture three times in 2024 suggests that Beaton is the blue eyed boy of the SFA whether it is Crawdord Allan or Willie Collum drawing a salary as Head of Refereeing.
It was , and is , out and out corruption .