JOHN BEATON will be in charge of Celtic’s crucial Premiership encounter at Ibrox on Sunday.
The referee will be aided by David McGeachie and Calum Spence on the touchlines while Steven McLean will be in the VAR studious, assisted by Kevin Clancy.
Remarkably, Beaton and McLean were the officials in the champions’ 2-2 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle last month in which Auston Trusty was red-carded in controversial circumstances.
McLean was the man in the middle that afternoon with Beaton in control of VAR.
HOPE AND A PRAYER…Auston Trusty faces another ban.
With the Hoops leading 2-1, the defender was booked following a coming-together with home striker Landry Kbore. However, the referee was instructed to review the incident and he returned to the pitch to dismiss the Celt.
The champions were forced to play 24 minutes, including stoppage-time, against the league leaders and had to settle for a point.
Coincidentally, Trusty was banished again on Sunday in the 2-1 home loss to Hibs following another intervention from VAR’s Grant Irvine.
Referee Matthew MacDermid had taken no action when the American international and the visitors’ Jamie McGrath tussled on the edge of the box as they awaited the delivery of a right-wing corner-kick.
However, after being urged to look again at the flashpoint moment, the match official returned to dismiss a stunned Trusty.
Celtic have appealed the decision and will learne the player’s fate after a fast-tracked SFA meeting today.
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