John Beaton has been appointed as the referee for what promises to be a mouthwatering Old Firm showdown at Ibrox this weekend. The bitter Glasgow rivals are gearing up for their third league derby encounter of the season, with Celtic holding a slim one-point lead over Rangers at the top of the table. The stakes are high as Celtic are chasing a treble, while Rangers are eager to close the gap and potentially overtake their rivals with a game in hand.
Under the management of Brendan Rodgers, Celtic has emerged victorious in both of their previous clashes this season. They secured a 1-0 win at Ibrox in September, followed by a 2-1 triumph at Parkhead to end 2023 on a high note. The heated rivalry between these two clubs adds an extra layer of intensity to what is always a fiercely contested match.
The first meeting between the two sides saw Don Robertson take charge, but it was marred by controversy following a controversial VAR decision that disallowed a goal from Kemar Roofe. The VAR review cited a contentious foul on Gustaf Lagerbielke by Cyriel Dessers as the reason for overturning the goal, sparking outrage from the Rangers camp. The drama continued in December when Rangers called for Willie Collum to be barred from officiating their games after a VAR incident involving a handball by Alistair Johnston in their loss at Celtic Park, despite Abdallah Sima being ruled offside.
As anticipation builds and tensions run high, all eyes will be on John Beaton as he steps into the middle to oversee what is sure to be a thrilling and fiercely competitive Old Firm clash at Ibrox this weekend.
