Very little detail has emerged from yesterday’s hearing, it isn’t known if the audio between the two officials was played and the reasoning for one match being suspended.
Any expectations of Celtic finally questioning the goings on at the SFA were ended by the clearly disappointed statement, the reaction from fans was 90% hostile with only a few claiming that the club had won the case and laid down a marker on the SFA.
If we truly believe the referees to be incompetent then we should not be accepting this decision. It should be appealed. The rule that you cannot challenge the competence of officials is perverse and should be changed.
It seems to have escaped them that the decision making of two leading referees contributed greatly to Celtic losing three vital SPFL points with Don Robertson and John Beaton given a free pass for their performances.
When Fashion Sakala threw himself into Carl Starfelt the man from Bellshill pointed to the penalty spot- they were soon off their seats cheering in the Crown Bar when James Tavernier found the net.
I can’t sit in the stand for my own safety, that sums things up in this country. I would have sat in the directors’ box but I was told for my own safety that it wasn’t a good idea.
Beaton is far from a lone wolf, it seems that all of the referees that reach the top under Crawford Allan have adopted similar decision making patters, in marked contrast with how UEFA match officials deal with the two Glasgow clubs.
Once Borna Barisic, Connor Goldson and Ryan Kent were signed Gerrard’s Starting XI was very settled, strangely their on field discipline improved from the worst in the SPFL Premiership to the best. Red cards going from eight to 0, yellows from 48 to 26.
Imagine the boost Celtic’s title hopes would get it John Beaton and Don Robertson were removed from their rota for the eight remaining matches?
I have to say I think this is a very common sense decision. When you look at that, it strikes his arm, he is on the goal line, he has no chance of avoiding that. It is kicked from two or three yards.