John Beaton slammed over major decision as Rangers star escapes red in Old Firm clash

John Beaton’s Celtic-Rangers flashpoint sparks fresh red card debate

John Beaton’s officiating has come under the spotlight after a major flashpoint during Celtic’s defeat to Rangers left pundits questioning whether Emmanuel Fernandez should have been shown a second yellow card.

Fernandez had already been booked early in the Old Firm clash after bringing down Camilo Duran as the Celtic attacker looked to break towards goal.

The Rangers defender then found himself at the centre of another controversial moment when Benjamin Nygren went down following a challenge from Fernandez.

Beaton awarded Celtic the free-kick but decided against reaching for his cards, despite Fernandez already being on a booking.

That decision immediately sparked frustration, with former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner arguing that the Rangers defender was fortunate to escape further punishment.

“I think the referee’s bottled it there, I’ll be honest with you,” Bonner said on BBC Sport Scotland. “He’s gone right through him there. If he’d not got a booking previously, he’s getting a yellow there.”

Former Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield also questioned the decision, while Chris Sutton described the challenge as reckless and suggested Fernandez had been fortunate.

The controversy has inevitably fuelled debate among Celtic supporters, particularly because a second yellow would have reduced Rangers to 10 men with plenty of football still to play.

Whether the decision changed the outcome will remain a matter of debate, but Celtic ultimately had to settle for defeat in the Old Firm clash.

Martin O’Neill admitted afterwards that his side had not produced their best performance, while the loss leaves Celtic heading into the international break with three consecutive defeats.

For Celtic fans, the Fernandez incident is likely to remain one of the biggest talking points from an Old Firm afternoon that already had plenty of drama.