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)
Willie Collum has been out explaining the incompetence of John Beaton.
The man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill failed to notice Manny Fernandez raising his left arm to block a shot from Teti Yengi of Livingston during a match at Ibrox.
Beaton had multiple angles to view the incident from. Fans watching a stream of the match instantly knew that the defender had swung his arm to block the shot.
There was only one possible explanation for the movement of the ball. It couldn’t have moved that way off his thigh, knee or stomach. There was only one explanation.
Beaton refused to give the right decision. Even with all the evidence in front of him he couldn’t give the right decision.
WHAT PUNISHMENT?
Since being unable to apply the Laws of the Game Beaton has continued business as usual.
He has refereed two matches at Tynecastle, Hearts drew both, dropping four points.
On Wednesday he was in charge of the Dundee United v Celtic match. A very lucrative second income. Continuing as if nothing had happened at Ibrox against Livingston.
In March 2024 Brendan Rodgers described Beaton as incompetent following a match at Tynecastle. Beaton refereed three of the next five Glasgow Derbies.
Speaking on the VAR Review (whitewash) Collum said:
This is an error for us. The VAR (mention his name, your mate Beaton) is also disappointed with the decision on reflection. We will make mistakes.
It is an error for everyone, not just us. We know what to mistakes to expect from Beaton.
We feel we have improved, and maybe less mistakes, but this is an example of the type of mistake we need to eradicate because it’s very hard for people to understand. This is a punishable handball. The arm it far too outstretched from the body.
We need that to be identified, we need that to be picked up and our VAR team to use the criteria to come to the right conclusion. I could analyse this clip, but put simply this is the type of error we want to eradicate, we want our match officials to get correct off field and in the VAR. Moving forward, we need to learn from this.
Moving forward, that old favourite.
When we talk about VAR, this is the kind of error people say they don’t understand because you get the chance to look and look again. This is one we would want to prevent moving forward.
Moving forward, again.
Just as well Collum is being ‘interviewed’ by Gordon Duncan. Paxman he isn’t, Duncan knows where his bread is buttered. He has incomes from the SFA and Sky Sports to maintain.
We’ve had a season and a half of honest Willie explaining and apologising. How we’ll learn lessons, lets move forward. Beaton has featured on almost every VAR Review.
Beaton has been making these types of mistakes since he was fast-tracked into the top flight. Ask Albion Rovers about their 2014 Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox.
Another graduate from the Lanarkshire Referees Association. All groomed by Hugh Dallas with Collum and Beaton the brightest stars. Andrew Dallas is full time VAR official.
Collum has lost any power he thought he had. Cast aside like an old dish cloth. He’s now being run over rough shod by the masons in black.
It’s back to business as usual – in other words, blatant cheating, and he can’t do a thing about it,
VAR or no VAR, nothing ever changes.
The establishment won’t have it any other way.
Lessons will be learned – Ah blah de dah, de dah, de fuckin dah…
Nah they’ll no be learned…
He failed to spot a blatant offside in the run up to the corner that led to The Dundee United goal on Wednesday…
Never mind – Lucan will be all over it – Won’t he…
One bonus is – It might hasten the departure of Nancy Boy !
After watching the VAR show and Collum acting the like a trick cyclist with his backpedaling I now after watching football for over sixty years now don’t know what constitutes a penalty, also his description of a pull of the jersey in the box have no impact he his given Diomande a free reign to pull people back without punishment,
One certainty this weekend is that Hearts will get absolutely stiffed by whoever is in charge of their game, its unwinnable for them unless they score 3 minimum.
I’d also happily predict pensevco will show it’s face as well.
Everybody knows the script and still the MiB don’t care…why? No consequences to their actions.