Hugh Keevins expressed his concern over what he viewed as an unjust decision by the SFA to appoint John Beaton as the referee for the Rangers versus Celtic match scheduled for Sunday, April 7th.
During his appearance on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on Wednesday, Keevins, a journalist at the Daily Record, highlighted the whirlwind of controversy that has swirled around Beaton’s appointment for over 40 hours. He pointed out the concerns raised by many who speculate that Beaton may exhibit bias towards Rangers in the upcoming Old Firm clash.
Referring to the emerging conspiracy theories, Keevins lamented the situation, questioning the rationale behind Beaton’s selection and expressing sympathy for the referee. He emphasized the unfairness of subjecting Beaton to such scrutiny and backlash just before the high-stakes showdown at Ibrox.
Keevins articulated his reservations, stating, “We’ve had this 40 hours of controversy following the appointment of the referee. I think the appointment is unfair on John Beaton because people believe that John Beaton was appointed to that match because he will definitely favour Rangers over Celtic.”
He further underscored his perplexity at the suspicions surrounding Beaton, highlighting the history of challenges faced by the official in relation to the fixture. Keevins pondered the logic behind inviting such conjecture and expressed his regret over the decision to assign Beaton as referee, deeming it detrimental to Beaton’s reputation and integrity.
The discourse revolving around John Beaton’s appointment for the Rangers versus Celtic encounter has ignited a debate on the appropriateness of the selection by the SFA. With recent controversy surrounding Brendan Rodgers’ disciplinary action following his criticism of officials, the timing of Beaton’s assignment adds another layer of scrutiny to the referee.
Recognizing the immense pressure that referees face in high-profile matches, the decision to entrust Beaton with officiating duties has amplified the stakes, potentially leading to heightened scrutiny and scrutiny. Concerns have been raised over the possibility of controversial calls influencing the outcome of the game, with hopes pinned on a clean and fair contest devoid of contentious decisions or excessive VAR interventions that have frustrated fans throughout the season.
As the much-anticipated clash approaches, the focus should ideally shift towards the on-field action and the battle for supremacy between the two rivals, emphasizing the spirit of competition and integrity in the quest for title contention.