John Beaton’s appointment as the referee for the upcoming Glasgow Derby is stirring discussions and raising eyebrows, particularly given his controversial involvement in Celtic’s recent defeat to Hearts.
The decision to appoint Beaton for such a pivotal fixture in the Scottish Premiership title race, especially after Brendan Rodgers’ outspoken criticism and subsequent touchline ban, has brought the spotlight firmly onto the Scottish FA’s refereeing appointments and Beaton’s officiating.
The two officials whom Rodgers was fuming at have been involved in both of Celtic’s subsequent games, with Don Robertson the man in the middle last Sunday.
The rescinding of Cammy Kerr’s red card, issued by Beaton, further puts the spotlight on Beaton’s decision-making ahead of a match that could decisively impact the title race.
The club is pleased to announce that following our appeal to the SFA Fast Track Tribunal, the red card given to Cammy Kerr by referee John Beaton has been rescinded along with the yellow card he received for simulation.
Cammy is now available for selection this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/kqkNaRuiXg
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) April 4, 2024
Beaton’s experience in officiating derbies does lend him a degree of familiarity with the intensity and pressure of such fixtures. However, this very experience places an additional layer of expectation on him to manage the game effectively and impartially. Given the recent controversies, his performance will be under intense scrutiny from fans.
It’s bizarre how the SFA are still giving the official high-profile matches. Would Brendan Rodgers reward a player who was on a terrible run of form a start in a crucial derby game?
