The referee and VAR team have come under increasing scrutiny following Celtic’s 3-3 draw with Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.
Controversial VAR decisions once again dominate the headlines as former referees and current pundits deliver their opinions on some of the biggest decisions in the Glasgow Derby stalemate.
The biggest talking point was the actions of Fabio Silva and how he ‘won’ Rangers a penalty. The simulation and antics of the Ibrox attacker were simply embarrassing and he should take a long, hard look at himself after that performance.
With many people of the opinion that Silva conned the referee, there were other decisions that Beaton took that were correct and others that he simply missed.
So did the match referee have a good game? How did John Beaton‘s performance match up the size of the occasion?
Neil Lennon has had his say and it might shock the Celtic fans.
Neil Lennon’s Beaton ‘eggshells’
The former Celtic manager agreed that the penalty call Beaton made was soft but he still felt that he had a decent game through the high-pressured derby.
Lennon said [PLZ Soccer], “I thought the referee had a good game. I have to say. And I think that’s why the game was so good to watch.
“I know everyone’s on eggshells about the refereeing decisions at times but I thought, in the main, he handled the game pretty well.”
I’m not so sure that the Celtic fans would agree with that assertion from Lennon. Especially after getting the biggest call of the game correct and then reversing his decision.
Beaton also seemed to allow Rangers players to get away with fouling whilst he was quick to brandish four yellows to the Bhoys.
And what was the booking for Nicolas Kuhn all about? Beaton seemed to suggest it was for persistent fouling but, to me, it seemed that the German winger has only committed one infringement and it was that which he was booked for.
Now I’m not saying Beaton had a bad game, far from it. But to suggest he had a good game when all we are doing is talking about refereeing and VAR two days later really does suggest the opposite.