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)
To the surprise of no-one the SFA have announced that John Beaton will referee Sunday’s Glasgow Derby.
The man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill is one of the most trusted match officials on the circuit.
Beaton and Willie Collum go back a long way as members of the influential Lanarkshire Referee Association.
Alongside David Dickinson Beaton is among the most staunch of the current batch of match officials.
His track record stretches back to the baffling decision to allow a ‘goal’ from Bilel Mohsni to stand, denying Albion Rovers a Scottish Cup win in 2014.
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That decision sent Beaton on the route to the top in Scottish refereeing, rising alongside Bobby Madden.
In December 2018 he was given his second Glasgow Derby. The celebrations in the Crown Bar lasted long into the night.
Six days after that match Celtic issued a statement demanding transparency and accountability. No fans expected the club to push the case. They weren’t wrong.
After tea and biscuits with Ian Maxwell of the SFA at Hampden and a reminder of July 2012 Peter Lawwell suddenly dropped his crusade for accountability.
Ever since Beaton has regularly been getting the Glasgow Derby.
— RhebelRhebel (@RhebelRhebel) February 24, 2026
After pulling a muscle during Celtic’s 1-0 win away to Falkirk Beaton has been teamed up as Steven McLean’s VAR official. Both men share some common interests.
On January 26 Austin Trusty was sent off as Celtic drew 2-2 away. McLean opted for yellow, Beaton prompted him to upgrade to red. He complied.
On February 3 Craig Halkett of Hearts was sent off in the first half as Hearts lost 1-0 away to St Mirren.
More recently Beaton prompted McLean to red card Lukas Fadinger of Motherwell as his side drew 1-1 at home with Danny Rohl’s side.
On Sunday Beaton will be refereeing with the comforting presence of McLean to provide support.
Don Robertson, Nick Walsh and McLean have refereed the previous derbies this season. With the two teams meeting again a week later in the Scottish Cup it could be the day that the Dickinson family has been waiting for.
— Neil (NEERU)????????? (@mcfadzean_neil) February 24, 2026
“After tea and biscuits with Ian Maxwell of the SFA at Hampden and a reminder of July 2012 Peter Lawwell suddenly dropped his crusade for accountability.”
PL has left the building, so any 2012 ‘agreement’ he made [whatever it was]
could be challenged by Nicholson today [don’t laugh].
If PL agreed to something which unfairly restricts the operations of the club now,
then that can be re-visited as a potential, serious error made by a previous CEO?
[Even a signed NDA could be invalid if it subjects a plc to unfair practices…?]
Yes, nothing will happen… 🙁
I just refer you to the now infamous,in European football ,”5 way agreement “ which by all accounts PL personally hand carried until all required signatures had been sought and sealed the deal
I have no doubt that the 5WA is something that should be looked at with a new CEO.
Has any fan or supporter of any club actually set eyes on the infamous 5 way agreement ? How long are the contents ….who advised the authorities to list the priorities of the contents ….who if anybody signed what , when and agreed with the contents and much more? Why all the secrecy attached to the paper(s) ? If the 5 way agreement are a set of unconditional rules set out for the greater good of the game , how come the authorities never , ever refer to them as guidance when the smelly gear hits the fan ?
Not sure why you deleted my comment
the good thing that may come from us being cheated is that mn grasping at straws trying to save his skin could go after the cheating scum with this slap in the face like B R did , remember he called beathun incompetent and nothing has changed
Sadly that is Very True…
@Bertie Basset
That’s definitely NOT licorice that you’re injesting into your system.
Any chance I can have details of your,how should I put this, supplier !
Nicholson will do the square root of fuck all on ANYTHING even in an effort to save his own miserable skin.
For all the money he has squirreled away, he doesn’t possess a shred of courage to supplement it.
This individual, I won’t do the rest of the male species a total disservice by calling him a man,has the spine of a jellyfish.
He is loathesome to look at and if by any chance he is married it will not be for his dashing good looks. He makes Mr Bean look like an Adonis !
Only a matter of time till Collum gives it to Dickinson…
He’s coming to an away ground near Celtic soon !