John Beaton has reportedly found himself in serious trouble following a controversial refereeing performance during today’s Celtic versus Rangers clash, with former Scottish Premier League referee Willie Collum reportedly calling for the immediate revocation of Beaton’s refereeing licence.
The report, attributed to Collum during a supposed interview with Sky Sports News, have sent social media into meltdown after the former referee reportedly questioned Beaton’s handling of several early incidents involving Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez.
Fernandez was booked just four minutes into the match after pulling down a Celtic player, immediately placing himself under disciplinary pressure.
However, only a few minutes later, another challenge involving the Rangers defender produced an even bigger controversy.
Fernandez was again involved in an incident after pulling down another Celtic player, but Beaton decided against showing him a second yellow card.
Celtic players reportedly surrounded the referee, appealing for Fernandez to be dismissed.
Their protests were unsuccessful.
Fernandez remained on the pitch, while Beaton continued officiating the fiercely contested Old Firm encounter.
That decision quickly became the centre of attention, with supporters questioning why a player who had already been booked so early in the match was allowed to escape another disciplinary punishment after another challenge.
And according to Collum, the former referee believes the decision raises serious questions about Beaton’s ability to officiate matches involving Celtic and Rangers.
“John Beaton has always been an unfair referee, particularly when it comes to Celtic versus Rangers, and I have serious questions about what happened today. Why was Emmanuel Fernandez not shown a red card after pulling down Celtic players? The first incident came just four minutes into the game, and then only a few minutes later there was another offence involving a Celtic player. If a player has already been booked and then commits another challenge that warrants further punishment, the referee has to deal with it properly. John Beaton’s decision-making today was clueless, and if this is how he intends to officiate, then his licence should be revoked with immediate effect.”
The comments immediately triggered an enormous reaction online.
Collum who is one of the most respected former referees in Scottish football, having officiated numerous major fixtures during his career, including Celtic versus Rangers encounters.
His reported criticism therefore carries enormous weight in this report.
The former referee reportedly went further by questioning whether Beaton had consistently demonstrated sufficient neutrality when officiating matches involving Celtic and Rangers.
According to the interview, Collum also pointed towards Beaton’s supposed record in the fixture, claiming that the referee had officiated ten Celtic versus Rangers matches.
The statistics became another major talking point among supporters.
“You cannot have officials supporting one side in football. The whole foundation of refereeing is neutrality, consistency and fairness. If an official is repeatedly involved in controversial decisions involving one particular fixture, then people will naturally begin asking questions. Beaton has reportedly officiated ten Celtic versus Rangers matches, and supporters can look at those results and make their own conclusions. From what I have seen, there appears to be a pattern where Rangers benefit more, and that is something that cannot simply be ignored.”
The statement immediately divided supporters.
Celtic fans claimed the Fernandez decision represented another example of poor officiating, while Rangers supporters rejected the suggestion that the referee had deliberately favoured their club.
The debate became increasingly heated as clips of the Fernandez incidents circulated across social media.
🗣️ @CelticView: “Booked after four minutes and then survives another challenge minutes later? How is that possible?”
🗣️ @Hoops1897: “This is exactly why Celtic fans are questioning Beaton. Fernandez should have been sent off.”
🗣️ @RangersZone: “A second foul does not automatically mean a second yellow. People need to calm down.”
🗣️ @OldFirmCentral: “Beaton has put himself under enormous pressure with that decision. The Fernandez incident will be discussed for days.”
🗣️ @CelticBhoys: “If the first yellow was correct, why wasn’t the second incident properly punished? Celtic have every right to be furious.”
The controversy comes at a time when refereeing decisions in matches remain among the most heavily scrutinised moments in Scottish football.
Celtic and Rangers have one of the most intense rivalries in the sport, meaning referees are expected to maintain an extremely high standard throughout the ninety minutes.
Every challenge is examined. Every booking is questioned. Every penalty appeal becomes a talking point.
And every red-card decision can potentially change the entire complexion of the match.
That is why the Fernandez incident has generated such a strong reaction.
With Fernandez already booked after only four minutes, another challenge involving the same player soon afterwards was always going to attract attention.
The decision not to issue a second yellow card allowed the Rangers defender to remain on the field and continue playing.
For Celtic supporters, that became a source of frustration.
For Rangers supporters, it was simply a refereeing decision that went in their favour.
The Collum comments, however, have taken the debate to another level by raising the question of whether Beaton should continue officiating major Celtic versus Rangers matches.
The former referee’s alleged call for an immediate licence revocation has consequently become the most explosive part of the story.
Whether such an extreme punishment would ever be considered in real Scottish football would depend on the relevant governing authorities and their assessment of the referee’s performance.
But within this report, the message attributed to Collum is unmistakable.
Beaton’s performance has reportedly crossed a line that the former official believes should trigger serious consequences.
And with the Fernandez decision already dominating the post-match discussion, the controversy surrounding John Beaton looks certain to continue long after the final whistle.
One thing is certain in this report: the Fernandez decision has turned an already heated Celtic–Rangers encounter into another explosive debate over refereeing, neutrality and the standard expected from officials in Scottish football.
