Former SFA referee Des Roache has said John Beaton got Celtic’s penalty decision at Ibrox ‘correct’ as the aftermath of the Ibrox draw continues.
Beaton was selected by the SFA to officiate the big Glasgow Derby and it seems that the whistler had a decent game as Celtic and Rangers battled to a 2-2 draw.
However, the Celtic penalty award is the one big talking point but according to Roache, it’s one that Beaton got absolutely bang on.
Ally McCoist’s tears over Celtic’s penalty are brilliant.
What is he talking about??
Roache says John Beaton got Celtic penalty ‘correct’
Beaton was under tremendous pressure heading into the big Ibrox clash and Roache reckons he passed the test with flying colours.
Roache told Hotline Live, “Any decision that was glaringly obvious, I think John got correct.
“I can’t say there was anything that was left undone. First foul I’ve got down is one minute, eight seconds, Adamu against Suottar, as I said on the live feed at the time, John was feeling himself into the game, letting things go.
“And he was positive. I really can’t see anything that I thought that he did wrong.
“I said it at half time. I said John’s making the game look easy. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy game.
“He’s used his man-management skills, because for that first 45 minutes, and for the entire 90 minutes, John is making decisions where he doesn’t need to blow.
“He’s making decisions when he’s running past players. It will be talking to Calum and talking to players about not diving in, etc.”
Des Roache praises SFA officials over Celtic’s penalty at Rangers
The amazing thing about VAR’s intervention is that it spotted Dujon Sterling’s handball immediately while Celtic and Rangers fans inside the stadium and watching at home were completely unaware.
And Roache was full of praise for the officials for that, “I didn’t see the penalty, not at full speed. Obviously. I think, as probably 99.9% of the country did, when he got called over, when you see that again, you think, oh, that’s perfect.
“That’s why VAR’s there. VAR’s there to back up the referees when the ref has no view on it. And Steven McLean called it completely correct.
“They followed protocol. John was getting the opportunity to come to look at it, getting the opportunity to make his decision.
“Again, he could have said no, but he said yes. I don’t have any gripes at all with the refereeing team, and that’s including the assistant referees, VAR and AVAR. I think they all had a good game.”
The talk over this incident will carry on for weeks to come as the title race between Celtic, Rangers and Hearts continues to heat up.
For now, that chat is parked as Celtic travel to Aberdeen on Wednesday night to try and collect all three points from their game in hand and close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to five points.
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