John Beaton has his double standards fully exposed

The double standards of John Beaton were highlighted at Ibrox yesterday.

Anyone that has followed his career since denying Albion Rovers a Scottish Cup win at Ibrox in 2014 won’t be surprised.

There is a pattern to his decision making. One that has allowed him to fast track his way to the top in Scottish refereeing circles.

Membership of the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association helps but you have to back that up by delivering results.

CROWN BAR BELLSHILL

Beaton is the safest pair of hands that the SFA can find, when they need a result the man from the Crown Bar isn’t going to let them down.

Since the League Cup semi-final on November 2 the whining from Ibrox has been incredible.

Through their network of media messengers the horrific refereeing of the three key officials at Hampden has been focussed onto the booking of Auston Trusty. Jack Butland wasn’t beheaded.

Various precedents have been highlighted. Steven Fletcher on Joe Hart has been glossed over. Celtic got away with one. Again, many would say. Completely ignoring the real mistakes made at Hampden.

The dodgy VAR lines and the dodgier frame used for the Nicky Raskin own goal have escaped mainstream comment.

PENALTY INTERVENTIONS

Equally the penalty box push on Reo Hatate had to wait four days for a mention. Three weeks on from the match there is virtually no mention of the handball on a Michel-Ange Balikwisha cross.

All of the attention on the Trusty incident was for one purpose. They have applied pressure on the officials for every match. Willie Collum will oblige with his appointments.

The Head of Refereeing at the SFA knows exactly what Beaton is. That is why he was on VAR at Ibrox yesterday as back up to rookie referee Ross Hardie.

At 1-1 in the first half Beaton delivered. The regulars at the Crown Bar would have been delighted.

In March 2024 Celtic were away to Hearts at Tynecastle. The previous day Motherwell had won at Ibrox.

Beaton was on VAR duty to Don Robertson.

IWATA HANDBALL

With the match goal-less a high cross went into the Celtic penalty area. It was bundled clear, no one thought any more of it. Except Beaton, the VAR official from Bellshill was on the job.

As soon as the ball went out of play a VAR review was called. Robertson was sent to the monitor, there was only one decision that he was going to make. He spotted a handball by Tomoki Iwata. Fifteen minutes earlier Robertson had happily sent off Yang Hyun-jun after he had been charged by Harry Cochrane.

Beaton turned the course of that match. Hearts scored the penalty against 10 man Celtic.

THE TRUST OF COLLUM

The same VAR official was on duty at Ibrox on Saturday for the visit of Livingston.

Manny Fernandez swung his left arm to block a shot from Tete Yengi. It was deliberate and clear, Beaton took no action.

On Tuesday Collum will publish the match officials for the weekend fixtures and the card next midweek.

There is no chance of Beaton being left out, Collum also owes his career to the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association.