GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Referee John Beaton walks out of the tunnel before the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Glasgow Rangers at Celtic Park on September 20, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Celtic were awful, clueless, hopeless in today’s Glasgow Derby. Other words can be used to describe the performance of John Beaton.
The man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill delivered the type of performance that has accelerated his way to the top in Scottish football.
Beaton turned in the type of performance that he was selected to produce.
Summed up by a decision taken in the 15th minute of the match that was pivotal to the outcome of the match.
Manny Fernandez picked up a booking in the fourth minute for a foul on Camilo Duran.
In a European match he would have been in bother, walking on eggshells for 80 plus minutes.
In the 15th minute Celtic fed the ball left to Duran who was body-checked by Fernandez.
BEATON BOTTLES OUT OF OBVIOUS RED CARD DECISION
Beaton knew who was involved and what the consequences were.
If it had been any other player it would have been a free-kick and a yellow card. He waved play-on, nothing to see here.
Absolutely no-one watching the match was surprised by Beaton’s decision making.
He has been doing the same since Albion Rovers were denied a Scottish Cup victory at Ibrox in 2014.
‘Bottled it’ – Pundits SLAM Old Firm referee John Beaton over major Celtic vs Rangers Emmanuel Fernandez red card callhttps://t.co/TSfeMnt5ki
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) September 20, 2026
There was more to come from Beaton in the second half.
He was happy to award a goal when Olwethu Makhanya hooked a shot home after controlling the ball with his arm in the 73rd minute.
Beaton was slightly unsighted but the line of the ball could only be followed by use of his arm.
Fortunately VAR reviewed the incident and disallowed the goal.
Celtic were hopeless. Their tactics were all over the place, the formation constantly being changed to no effect.
Martin O’Neill is accountable for that.
Beaton has a free pass to do as he pleases.
Like Willie Collum he is a member of the Lanarkshire Referees Association.
It will be party time tonight at the Crown Bar tonight, with or without their celebrity customer.
NOTE: No matter how good or bad a team plays they are entitled to have the Laws of the Game applied in their fixtures. Celtic were denied that today.
In five years as CEO Michael Nicholson hasn’t raised a single criticism of Scottish referees.
Rangers ‘goal’ 2 handed shove by Nico Raskin on Luke McCowan – clear foul by Raskin – shud have been disallowed. Stupid foul by Raskin but a clear one – officials really poor to miss such a blatant 2 handed shove which is foul every day of week
See more: https://t.co/fb3Xnus4xQ pic.twitter.com/hW8s3lnsO5— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) September 20, 2026
Really don’t where we go from here Joe can’t see any way out of this s**t show till we change management team after watching this today, don’t even know changing the manager will do it either, there’s a lot wrong but do our board have the balls to sort it…..i personally blame the tax dodger DD but that guy is going nowhere.
Yes, poor officiating as expected.
But, MON should now do the decent thing, and walk away.
Significant formation / team changes, but an unacceptably poor display,
yet again.