The compliantly controversial referee Don Robertson will have the whistle at the Tony Macaroni stadium in Livingston on Easter Sunday as title chasing Celtic take on David Martindale’s relegation threaten side.

Heart of Midlothian v Celtic – Greg Taylor right and Celtics Cameron Carter-Vickers speak with match referee Don Robertson after he awards a penalty to Heart of Midlothian during the cinch Premiership match at Tynecastle Park, Saturday March 2, 2024. Photo Andrew Milligan

Robertson didn’t think that Celtic winger Yang’s high boot merited a red card at Tynecastle, nor did he see anything in the Tomoki Iwata jump to challenge for the ball. Yet he was sent to the VAR screen by the ‘incompetent’ John Beaton and someone Celtic were a man down and a penalty awarded against Brendan Rodgers’ side which seemed to come out of thin air.

Rodgers has been charged by the Scottish FA who previous did nothing as theRangers conducted witch-hunts on Willie Collum twice and Kevin Clancy one. Yet Celtic, who usually roll over and say nothing, have been hauled up this week. They should be going in with all guns blazing on this one.

Brendan Rodgers faces a two match touchline ban which would keep him out of the dugout at Livingston and Ibrox, the convenience of that for the perpetrators is ironic to say the least.

Robertson could to course have looked at the footage on VAR and had some conviction about what his own eyes saw in realtime. Maybe he was too timid, maybe he was in on the sting. Maybe he’s just a feeble man and a rotten referee. Who knows?

John Beaton – Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

But Crawford Allan, the head of Scottish referees who has already fallen on his sword – jumps before pushed – he goes at the end of the season. That gives him time for a grand finale, if Celtic allow it to happen.

Don Robertson will get a vocal reception on Sunday with the vast majority of supporters in the Livingston stadium supporting Celtic.

He will be assisted Graeme Stewart and Andy Milne and fourth official will be Euan Anderson.

The VAR comedians will be Alan Muir and Graeme Leslie, although it should be noted that Beaton wasn’t on the Scottish FA’s billing at all for that game at Tynecastle. Maybe Celtic will seek an explanation for that change of personnel too?