There was no holding back from Neil McCann as he sat on the Sportscene sofa last night to collect a fee from the state broadcaster towards paying off his various tax liabilities.
Celtic’s League Cup victory sparked scenes of chaos at BBC Scotland as they had to come to terms with the consequences of Celtic winning their 119th trophy since 1888.
No matter how much you might brace yourself and prepare for it bad news always hits hard with McCann eager to hit out at an alleged penalty for a foul by Liam Scales during the League Cup Final.
Had Beaton applied the Laws of the Game it would have been a penalty but the man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill blew earlier for what he interpreted as a foul on Cerny by the Celtic defender, before the shirt pull.
Having scandalously booked Cameron Carter-Vickers towards the end of regulation time it was no surprise that Beaton blew quickly for a free kick, equally there was no shock value to McCann’s interpretation of the Laws of the Game.
If only his accountant was as well versed with Income Tax regulations the former Dundee manager would be a little more relaxed and able to turn down media requests now and then.
Sportscene penalty chat: pic.twitter.com/IXUxT1s7Ho
— Stevie (@enclosureloyal) December 15, 2024
Beaton and his match officials gave the sort of performance that Celtic fans have come to expect from Lanarkshire’s leading referee.
At every opportunity free kicks were awarded to prevent Celtic from getting into their stride, Phil Clement’s players didn’t need any contact to fall to the floor to be awarded a free-kick as play was slowed down on a sub-standard pitch. Not that McCann bothered or thought that it was worthy of comment.
The booking on Carter-Vickers in stoppage time was a particular scandal, the Celtic defender executed a perfect tackle but given the chance to produce a red card and eat into stoppage time Beaton couldn’t resist.
In the first half of extra-time Celtic quickly took a free-kick, seeing Daizen Maeda running onto it the man from Bellshill quickly blew to have the free kick retaken.
Having been booked in the first half Beaton watched Leon Balogun slide through to strike Reo Hatate on the ankle, a free kick was awarded 25 yards from goal without even a word said to Balogun. McCann was mute on that incident.
Sportscene wanted to focus on the ‘penalty’ decision, drawing on the Instagram post from Bobby Madden to back up their claims.
Anyone wanting to take the former referee seriously should watch a rerun of the 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final for evidence of Madden’s ‘judgement’
A year ago Aberdeen were denied a stoppage time penalty in the League Cup Final when Duk was wiped out two yards from goal by Jack Butland, BBC Scotland were too busy celebrating to analyse that decision as the Clement Revolution got underway with a trophy.
Did Sportscene give anywhere near the same amount of time or acknowledge another denied penalty claim talking point from last seasons final?https://t.co/0Hm6yFF82a
— DPC 🇨🇷 (@DensParkChoir) December 15, 2024
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