Charlie Mulgrew revives old Rangers fury at John Beaton after fresh Celtic controversy

Charlie Mulgrew reignited the Celtic-Rangers rivalry during discussions surrounding the controversial late penalty awarded to Celtic F.C. against Motherwell F.C., unexpectedly dragging Rangers into the debate following the dramatic scenes at Fir Park.

While Rangers were also in action during the midweek fixtures, suffering a 2-1 defeat at Ibrox in a match with little significance for their season, much of Scottish football’s focus remained fixed on the title race. With Hearts moving closer to what would be a historic first league title since 1960, Celtic looked set to hand the advantage to their rivals after dropping points.

However, the match took a dramatic turn late on when referee John Beaton pointed to the penalty spot following a VAR review involving Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson and Celtic defender Auston Trusty. Kelechi Iheanacho calmly converted from the spot to seal a dramatic victory and swing momentum back in Celtic’s favour heading into the final day.

The decision immediately sparked fierce debate, with many questioning whether there was enough clear evidence to confirm a handball offence. Despite the controversy, Mulgrew offered a surprising perspective while speaking about Beaton’s involvement, bringing Rangers into the conversation in remarks that quickly raised eyebrows.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Celtic defender suggested the referee’s perceived football loyalties may actually have strengthened confidence in the call.

Mulgrew said: “I think it ticks a lot of boxes for John Beaton. Now, John Beaton is of the Rangers persuasion, and he’s been known to be a Rangers fan in Scotland.

“He’s been sent to the monitor, and if there’s one guy who’s going to say what he sees, it’s John Beaton. I don’t believe John Beaton is going to say anything other than what he’s seen.”

His comments added another layer to an already heated debate, particularly given Rangers had no direct involvement in the incident itself. With the Light Blues beaten by Hibernian F.C. on the same evening, some questioned why Mulgrew felt the need to reference the Glasgow rivals at all.

The remarks also reopened memories of long-running frustrations surrounding Beaton’s officiating history in Scottish football. Critics pointed to past Old Firm controversies, including debates over key refereeing calls involving Celtic and Rangers stretching back more than a decade.

Whether Mulgrew’s comments were intended to defend the decision or simply stir debate, they ensured Rangers were once again pulled into a controversy that had initially centred entirely around Celtic, Motherwell and VAR.