If Celtic are successful in appealing Trusty’s red card, then the door is wide open to demand Beaton is nowhere near a Celtic game for the rest of the season

Almost two years ago at Tynecastle, John Beaton was on VAR for Hearts v Celtic in a pivotal game in the Scottish Premiership.

Celtic had the opportunity to return to the top of the League with a win that day.

But it wasn’t to be, Celtic were doomed from the outset with Beaton as VAR.

A series of inexplicable decisions which even blew Brendan Rodgers’ mind followed.

The Celtic hierarchy, as usual, didn’t do much in the aftermath of that game.

As Rodgers was hauled before the Hampden beaks for telling the truth in the aftermath of the game, they did hire the services of a KC to defend Rodgers.

In the end, the Irishman served a two match ban, with one game suspended.

Here’s what he had to say at the time:

I never like to comment on officials, but that cost us today, the officiating, from on field to John Beaton on VAR. That cost us.

I look at the first incident (red card) and if you put a still on that it looks dangerous, but that’s not the reality of the move. There’s no force there, the ball’s popped up. It’s a booking. That’s really disappointing to go down to 10 men for that but to receive a penalty against us – wow, that was even worse.

Rodgers stated that the game was “refereed outside the field” that day.

Fast forward to yesterday, and another pivotal game in the title race.

But this time, with a hell of a lot more at stake.

John Beaton was once again the VAR, but this was a three horse race, as opposed to a two horse race back in 2024.

Celtic entered into the game needing to close the gap on Hearts, and up until the 77th minute, we were right on course to do that.

In reality, a draw did not benefit either side.

But it did benefit one side.

The favourite side of John Beaton, and his on-field colleague, Steven McLean.

Beaton knew that a draw would swing the door right open for the Ibrox side to muscle their way meaningfully into this race.

Once again, the game was “refereed outside the field” because Steven McLean had already given a yellow card to Auston Trusty for his “transgression” against Hearts’ Pierre Landry Kaboré.

We all know from watching it back that it was NOT a red card offence.

As you can see from the above picture, the ball is not running towards the goal.

Considering the pace of the ball, and the pace of Kaboré just prior to the incident, if he had managed to catch up with the ball, he would have gone well wide of the goal.

In addition to that Dane Murray was tracking back well ahead of him.

Had he managed to get the ball under control, its likely that both Murray and Trusty would have got themselves back into a position where they could challenge him.

Liam Scales was also directly behind the path of the ball, meaning he also would have most likely closed in on Kaboré.

This was not a clear cut goal scoring opportunity.

Auston Trusty was not the last Celtic man back.

And finally, Auston Trusty’s contact with Kaboré was minimal, in fact, Kaboré clearly wants to initiate it because he knows he’s not reaching that ball.

The yellow card was the correct decision to begin with, but you can see by Trusty’s reaction, even he thought that was harsh.

He didn’t bet on the cogs of “unconscious bias” working over-time in John Beaton’s head though, did he?

And of course he couldn’t think that Beaton would see a golden opportunity to open the door to his favourite club either, did he?

But that’s exactly what John Beaton did.

He took it upon himself to once again “referee the game from outside the field”.

The yellow card from the on-field referee, according to the basic rules of the game, is and should be the final decision.

See below from the IFAB rule book:

Under current IFAB protocols, a single yellow card is considered a subjective disciplinary decision and is not reviewed by VAR. VAR only intervenes for direct red cards, penalties, goals, or mistaken identity, not for the issuance or non-issuance of yellow cards, even if they result in a sending-off. 

That’s pretty clear cut, isn’t it?

Yet John Beaton interfered and over-ruled the on-field referee in this case.

McLean, of course – being of the same persuasion as Beaton – didn’t argue, and duly upgraded the yellow to a red.

As per Beaton’s advice.

Both officials knew that Celtic being reduced to ten men handed the initiative to Hearts.

And it couldn’t have worked out better for them because Hearts only managed to secure a draw.

Thus opening the door wide for the Ibrox side to get in between them and Celtic.

Mission complete for Messrs. Beaton and McLean.

But there’s nothing to see here, of course.

Nothing at all.

This is all a total conspiracy created by those of a Celtic persuasion.

Today, it would appear that Michael Nicholson has grown a pair of balls, and Celtic are going to appeal the red with the SFA.

This is all well and good.

But if the red card is rescinded, what then?

That is proof positive that Beaton was wrong to intervene in the first place.

Which then feeds into the narrative of corruption.

The SFA are caught between a rock and a hard place here.

The incident was not a red card offence.

The replays and the stills prove this.

But to concede that means that Beaton, a known Ibrox supporter, intervened when he shouldn’t have.

And in doing so, he handed his favourite side a serious advantage in this title race.

While Nicholson might have the balls to appeal the red, will he have the balls to demand that Beaton should never be left near a game involving Celtic between now and the end of the season?

Just like the Ibrox side did with Willie Collum back in 2024?

Collum barely went near a game involving them from then until the end of the season.

When he was involved, it had no bearing on the destination of the title at that point.

On that basis, I believe the SFA will stand by their man.

Because to rescind the red card as much as admits there is corruption, and that John Beaton is at it.

Which we have always known he has been.

Mark my words, that red card will not be downgraded to the original yellow.

Because to do so would bring a shitstorm of epic proportions down on the SFA.

Then again, for that to happen, Nicholson’s testicular fortitude would need to multiply by ten.

I won’t hold my breath on either count.

He’ll be sent packing by the appeals panel, with his tail between his legs.

And he’ll willingly accept that.

Number of days Michael Nicholson remains Celtic CEO since Wilfried Nancy’s sacking – 21