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)
The man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill has a long and controversial history with the fixture.
Growing up in Motherwell it was widely known that he was a fan of Rangers.
When that club died he easily switched over to the Tribute Act launched by Charles Green in 2012.
Albion Rovers were one of the first clubs to suffer from the decision making of Beaton.
Leading 1-0 going into the latter stages of a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox Beaton allowed Bilel Mohsni to man-handle the Rovers keeper while punching the ball into the net for an equaliser. Rovers lost the replay.
JOHN BEATON- A REFEREE WITH PLENTY OF HISTORY AND BAGGAGE
In 2024 Brendan Rodgers suffered a one match touchline ban for describing Beaton as incompetent.
That followed a VAR appointment where he pushed Don Robertson into sending off Yang Hyun-jun then awarded Hearts a ridiculous penalty.
As a reward for that Beaton refereed Celtic at Ibrox four weeks later before being back on VAR duty for the Scottish Cup Final.
Last season Beaton refereed the 22 Glasgow Derby at the start of March.
After missing the Dujon Sterling handball to deny Celtic a penalty he had no option but to give it after a lengthy VAR Review.
Beaton also missed Celtic penalties in the closing stages of the season at home and away against Motherwell. Both times VAR had to intervene.
Sunday’s VAR will be Nick Walsh. The lack of talent in SFA refereeing is highlighted by Walsh refereeing a Glasgow Derby one week then being on VAR duty the next.
Walsh spends his week, Monday to Friday working on the educational and physical education of Murray Park starlets at Boclair High School.
According to ‘Honest’ Willie Collum Scottish VAR officials don’t guess at VAR decisions. Collum is a long time friend of Beaton through the Lanarkshire Referee Association.
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It’s pointless exposing all of this out as the Celtic board are well aware of it all …yet perennially do and say nothing ! It’s not just the Celtic board either ? The other teams in the Premiership are also aware of the fact that most top flight officials are theRangers supporters in private yet accept them to officiate their league game with impunity ! Let me put it this way ? If it was role reversals and most referees in particular in wee Scotland were well known Celtic fans in private do you think for half a nano second that the tribute act would accept this and not complain and bemoan to the proper authorities? Or their pals in the SMSM would not have a big beef about it either ? It would be exposed to the rest of the world in double quick time all under the guise of dishonesty and theRangers having to play in an unlevel playing field ! There would be outrage ! Whereas the Celtic board and others just take another punch below the belt ….happily ! So what’s the point in whining ? The board couldn’t give a monkey’s…….
So glad that ah no longer pay a penny !
“Incompetent” or not, neither FIFA nor UEFA want Scottish match officials
anywhere near their Finals tournaments.
But, Beaton & co. aside:
we also have to worry about whether or not our own team will actually turn up on Sunday…? 🙁
Just imagine if we had a LEADING sports lawyer on the board