It’s a situation you just don’t see in England that Rangers have to put up with ahead of the Old Firm derby, phone-in shows full of fans complaining about biased referees or crying conspiracy.
John Beaton has been given the nod with only one of his previous four Old Firm derbies causing any problem, when someone gets their own way for so long, they rarely cope when something doesn’t.
Since his appointment, there has been never ending scrutiny but Rangers will be hoping that it doesn’t get to the experienced referee in what is already shaping up to be a blockbuster Old Firm – with one pundit claiming that Beaton should never have been picked.
Controversial Rangers ref call sees pundit raise Old Firm fear
For context, one of the worst refereeing performances ever seen at Ibrox was by John Beaton, but it was in favour of Hibs.
Anthony Stokes seemed immune to punishment and commited several bookable offences, two of which could easily have been sraight red cards.
He also booked Alfredo Morelos when he was through on goal for being headlocked by Darren McGregor – one of the most incredible decisions I’ve ever seen.
One minute you are expecting your opponents to go down to ten men, the next, you are wondering if what you have just seen really happened.
Scottish referees on the whole, aren’t great.
But, is Beaton really any worse than the rest?
They say that if a ref is unpopular with everyone then they are doing something right, I reckon it’s probably because they aren’t very good.
And, this is the case with Beaton.
On his day, he can handle a game without being seen, however, he is also capable of some really baffling decisions.
Keevins not happy with Beaton’s Old Firm appointment
Speaking on Clyde Superscoreboard – after a Celtic fan phoned to say that Rangers are now guaranteed a penalty due to Beaton’s appointment – Hugh Keevins was clearly angry:
“We’ve had this 48 hours worth of controversy following on from the appointment of the referee.
“And, I think the appointment was unfair on John Beaton, because people that genuinely believe that John Beaton is appointed to that match because he will definitely favour Rangers over Celtic.
“Now, my response to that would be, why, and this man’s had trouble before, from supporters off the park because of this fixture, why would a man bring all of that down upon his own head?
“I think that conspiracies about penalties and the referee, that’s why I wish that they had not appointed John Beaton, because it’s unfair on John Beaton.”
Conversely, if the SFA doesn’t give one of it’s most experienced referees the Old Firm derby, what does that tell you?
That the Celtic manager can complain about referees and just get his way?
Regardless of who the man in the middle is, it is a highly pressurised job, they know what they are signing up for.
I’m not entirely sure why Celtic fans are moaning either, look at the first two derbies of this season, the decisions haven’t exactly been kind to Rangers, have they?
