Celtic battled to hard earned victory against a well coached Motherwell side, who are admittedly a terrific side to watch, and a breath of fresh air for the Scottish game that is dominated by kick and rush tactics and parking the bus when visiting Celtic Park and Ibrox…
14.03.2026 Celtic v Motherwell, Scottish Premiership. Emmanuel Longelo receives a red card from John Beaton after a VAR review. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO
To overcome the Steelmen after being a goal down in a pressure filled game is a testament to the Celtic players’ mental strength as well as their ability.However it wasn’t just the men in claret and amber that the Bhoys had to overcome, it was the man with the whistle who had a huge say in proceedings. That man was the match referee John Beaton.
Beaton who is tellingly dubbed ‘cheatin’ Beaton’ by the Celtic supporters, has for quite some time been responsible for some very questionable decisions that have gone against Celtic throughout his time as a referee.
This is not a tin foil hat scenario, as some will suggest, this is the real deal, and furthermore the evidence is widely available.
Fabio Silva dives inside the Celtic penalty area and cons a penalty from referee John Beaton. Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
Beaton is a well known life-long supporter of the Rangers clubs, that’s common knowledge. So why on earth is he or any other official who has a well known affection towards the Ibrox side -our rivals for the title – allowed to officiate in any of our or the blue half of Glasgow’s games for that matter? It happens in Scotland and only in Scotland. I’ve asked before, where are the referees from Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness etc and why are there so many from Lanarkshire?
That’s an argument for another time, but for now it’s all about Beaton, and yesterday he yet again appeared to allow his feelings for his favourite club to play a part in almost denying Celtic a vital win in the title race.
Someone somewhere needs to explain why John Beaton does not immediately blow for a penalty here?
What does he think he is looking at, if not a clear foul on a player about to head into an empty net?
What exactlyis it that stops him from putting that whistle to his mouth? pic.twitter.com/jU1niDE6ON— Searriagh (@searriagh67) March 14, 2026
The entire game, Beaton was guilty of making the ‘wrong decision’ all in favour of the away side. Look we have to hold our hands up for our part in conceding the opening goal, Reo Hatate in particular but also the hospital pass from Viljami Sinisalo.
But it didn’t help that we appeared to up against twelve men for most of the game, until the red card evened things up.
Take the booking Beaton gave to Hatate for pointing out where a free kick should have been taken. Hatate was correct and Beaton knew it. yet instead of telling the Motherwell player to retreat to where the incident happened he wen to his pocket to book the Celtic midfielder.
This is the penalty Beaton didn’t think was a penalty
Var intervened as the cameras don’t lie
Thanks for watching Scotlands premier club https://t.co/Zf3ZhiXydL pic.twitter.com/pkr1i6ITXz
— ‘huvnae slept fur 3 munf,Ina’oof,ah joost’ #120 (@Ina_oof_a_joost) March 15, 2026
There were numerous other cards shown to Celtic players – the one given to Anthony Ralston was outrageous as the Celtic substitute clearly won the ball.
The moment that changed the game was the one that has subsequently called out Beaton’s biggest ‘honest mistake’ of the season and that was only made possible due to a VAR intervention, just like what happened at Ibrox.
That was a great spot by VAR and a correct decision was made in the end. Yesterday everyone in the stadium could see it was a clear pull back on Daizen Maeda by Motherwell full-back Emmanuel Longelo to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity to head into an empty net.
Penalty Celtic. Maeda fouled by Modelos – red card & penalty – deemed obvious goal scoring opportunity & no attempt to play the ball pic.twitter.com/1fyGWdZ5N0
— The Global Tablet of Jurisprudence (@gtj1247) March 14, 2026
John Beaton had the best view of all yet awarded a goal-kick to Motherwell. It was an astonishing decision from a referee who has clearly crossed a line now.
Daizen Maeda was quite clearly impeded in the area, and denied a goalscoring opportunity, with a penalty and red card the only outcome, but Beaton somehow managed to ‘miss’ the incident despite having a clear view. Everyone in the ground knew it was an illegal challenge, but somehow Beaton waved the Celtic appeals away.
Unfortunately for John Beaton and his chums on VAR, there is no longer any hiding place for these ‘honest mistakes’ and he had no other choice but to award a spot kick and dismiss the Motherwell defender after being sent to the monitor.
And what Clancy showed him was a stonewall penalty and a straight red card that he had this view of. That’s yer cheating right there. The fact Beaton tried to ignore this. pic.twitter.com/272W5WN2zB
— LORD Pickles (@P12KLS) March 15, 2026
Fortunately for us, Tomas Cvancara kept his cool, just like he did at Ibrox last week and fired us into the lead, before Yang added another to secure a much deserved victory.
The penalty wasn’t controversial, the fact it was snubbed on first viewing was the real talking point in what was an excellent game of football and a great advertisement for the Scottish game.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Barcawell
Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order
No surprise here and no surprise nothing ever gets done about it
I saw a stat someone posted. In 9 years Beaton gave Celtic one penalty. Since the introduction of VAR he has given Celtic 6 penalties….5 of which he gave because VAR called them.
He will only give us penalties if VAR gives him no choice.
The bookings he gave Celtic players were ridiculous.
He has been in great form all season for his team, easily their best official.
Great result not just the score it has opened a can of worms I hope in to the lanarkshire ref club beaton was outit years ago nmbut yesterdays gane showed it big at its worse he wrote in his school leaving year book he loved Rangers pre 2012 and sevco Rangers and M Ghill Rangers now 49ers Rangers I say cause that is the way the club is officail in the businnes book he says he love Rangers but it misses the most true feelings is the hate of Celtic and what and there history in this wee central part of the west of Scotland seen last week where we might have saw his classmates couldnt take Celtic celebrating getting into the semi final of Scottish cup
No mention of the other blatant penalty soon after the one we did get? Tomas was clearly brought down in the box right in front of Beaton and not only did he see it, but he completely ignored it.
There’s no question, Beaton is a very corrupt and biased official and was carefully selected by Collum to hopefully be able to make amends for having to award us that blatant handball at the Govan pig farm a few weeks ago.
The foul on Cvancaras was also a shocker
Its time somebody in authority at celtic did something about this waste of sperm.hh
Blessed are we who expect nothing and we shall not be disapointed.
Hail Hail.
What would have happened if VAR had NOT intervened ? Celtic’s chances of winning the Premier League gone . Celtic’s chances of involvement in the European Cup ( with all cash that goes with-it) , gone . How much damage has Beaton and his corrupt , ” Partners-in -crime” done to Celtic over the years ? How much have they benefitted theRangers over the years ?
We are talking about serious criminal corruption , yet the Celtic Board ; who know about this criminal intent , refuse , time and time again , to highlight it to the authorities . I wonder why ? This is the type of thing the Celtic Collective and the Celtic Board should be fighting , NOT each other . Also , websites like the Celtic Star should be calling -out this evil influence time and time again , so that it cannot be laughed-off or explained away as ,” Honest mistakes” . Get these corrupt officials in open court or before a Public Inquiry to explain their actions . Only then will Celtic and other clubs get the justice they deserve ;so come-on Celtic Star , let’s see you start a campain to rid our game of these evil B**ta**s once and for all .