‘ROW’ REF IN CHARGE OF DONS v CELTS

JOHN BEATON will be in charge of Celtic’s crucial Premiership encounter against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.

It will be the first time the referee has officiated at a game involving the champions since the controversial match at Ibrox late in December when the Hoops went down 1-0.

Beaton angered the visitors with a string of inexplicable decisions – three of them concerning Alfredo Morelos who, amazingly, escaped even a solitary yellow card, despite being involved in three flashpoint incidents.

The Colombian, who has been serving a four-match ban after elbowing Scott Brown in the face in the last Glasgow derby, got away with a sly kick at the Celtic captain, followed that up by grabbing Ryan Christie in a sensitive area and then stamped on the grounded Anthony Ralston with the ball out of play.

Parkhead chiefs demanded clarity from the 37-year-old whistler and followed up by forcing an SFA summit on refereeing standards which was held in Perth in January.

A point against the Dons will be enough to secure Celtic’s eighth successive title while the club also have a Scottish Cup Final date with Hearts at Hampden on May 25 as they zero in on a unprecedented treble treble.