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)
John Beaton had a decisive impact at Ibrox today as Danny Rohl’s side beat Dundee United 4-2.
It should be party time tonight in the Crown Bar in Bellshill.
Beaton has refereed just seven matches in 2026, on March 1 and today, April 4 he was refereeing at Ibrox, the ground that the chubby schoolboy dreamed of playing at.
Against Celtic on March 1 Beaton refused Celtic two clear penalties.
In the 11th minute Liam Scales had his jersey pulled then got ruby tackled to the ground as he attempted to connect to a corner.
THE BEATON FACTOR
Late in the second half Dujon Sterling grabbed Sebastian Tounekti’s jersey then man-handled the winger off the pitch. Beaton saw the incident in its entirety and awarded a goal-kick. Sterling got the last touch.
Finally in the 88th minute a VAR call forced Beaton into awarding Celtic a penalty. He took three minutes pouring over an obvious handball from Sterling. Finally, reluctantly he trudged onto the pitch to award Celtic a penalty.
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin raging with John Beaton. Aasgaard ran, jumped & elbowed Sevelj on the jaw (‘left an elbow on him’, Maurice Ross) – no red card. Sterling poleaxed Fattah’s chest ridiculous elbow, no penalty. Don’t see DU getting anything w/ decisions like these pic.twitter.com/kqMqNyOjdy
— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) April 4, 2026
Thelo Aasgaard was booked in the 16th minute for elbowing an opponent on the side of the face.
Beaton awarded the yellow card, he felt that was the appropriate punishment.
Aasgaard stayed on the pitch, Dundee United should have had an extra player for over 70 minutes. Aasgaard scored the second goal today. He should have been watching the match from the Directors Box.
Later in the first half Amar Fattah was making a run into the penalty to receive a cross. Sterling noted the danger, raising an elbow to strike Fattah on the chest and halt his run.
Decisions like those with Aasgaard and Sterling impact on games. Red cards and penalties matter.
When yer man from Bellshill is refereeing at Ibrox the home players know that they have a certain license that would be punished outside of Scotland.

Why is anyone fu**in surprised…
Cheats with whistles flags and monitors have gained Sevco EIGHT points this season that I’ve clocked…
How many have they equally diddled us out of as well…
Lucan in fairness canny say much about what Sevco receive v Dundee United…
But he can say plenty about our scenarios…
Ach Fu*k it – I’m just glad I don’t pay a penny towards it all these days…
I’m off to England for a boozy long weekend to watch an unfashionable team I like down there – At least the officiating will be honest – I think anyway !
Sevco have a very good chance to win the league and potentially get straight into the Champions League Groups it is time for all brothers to come to the aid of the Establishment Club. You ain’t seen nothing yet.