John Beaton didn’t have much to do as the man in the middle, however, the referee showed that he has been paying attention to the nonsense on social and mainstream media with one incident in Rangers v Kilmarnock.
For most of this season, all we have heard is conspiracy after conspiracy and the last couple of games has shown why the pressure has been ramped up on officials.
First it was Nick Walsh against Celtic at the weekend, but now John Beaton has followed suit by giving a bizarre penalty at Ibrox against John Souttar and Rangers.
John Beaton makes poor call for Rangers penalty decision
Rangers have been on an incredible run of not conceding a league penalty, however, we have now conceded three in total domestically this season but, we all know who is benefitting from the penalty shouts.
How many have Celtic conceded?
Zero – in total.
John Beaton didn’t give the penalty against Rangers in normal play, instead, Andrew Dallas in VAR duties referred the whistler to the screen.
Soutter was sliding to block a cross with his arm by his side, it wasn’t out straight or extended or making his body bigger, he was also too close to move his arm out of the way.
Not a single box was ticked in terms of what is and isn’t a penalty and, specifically, a handball offence.
It was an easy decision for John Beaton to make though because he knows it will take a bit of heat off of the officials across the country and prove that Rangers don’t get any favours.
I would love to know in what world the decision that went against John Souttar was more of a handball than Alistair Johnston’s at Parkhead at the weekend and I’m sure Gers boss Philippe Clement feels the same.
Rangers are yet to get the audio for the controversial incident in the Old Firm derby and all John Beatin’s decision has done is give us more ammunition.
At least this will stop all the conspiracy nonsense now though….
