A former referee has been left fearful that Willie Collum will be the man in the middle for Sunday's final derby of the season between Rangers and Celtic - with John Beaton relieved of any wrongdoing in the most recent Ibrox match.
The experienced ref was in the VAR room on Sunday for Hearts against the Hoops and made a controversial call to send off Alex Cochrane for what he deemed a last-man tackle. It was still 0-0 at that time and Celtic went on to win 2-0, with Jambos boss Steven Naismith far from happy over the call.
It won't be Beaton in the middle again at Ibrox this Sunday according to Steve Conroy, who believes he was not to blame in another refereeing controversy. Connor Goldson went tumbling down in the box with Duk as his Rangers side defeated Aberdeen 1-0, but the decision not to award a spot-kick has raised eyebrows. However, it's VAR official Steven Kirkland and assistant referee Graeme Stewart getting it in the neck.
On the next derby ref and incidents at Ibrox, Conroy told T10 Digital: "Based on all the possible connotations it looks like it will be given to the man who made the biggest mistake of the weekend. My suspicion and fear is that it will be him (Willie Collum). The only other possible candidate is Steven McLean.
“It’s a clear penalty (Goldson on Duk). It’s a rugby tackle that wouldn’t have gone amiss at Scotstoun last Friday night when the Warriors could have done with a few tackles like that.
“It’s not John Beaton’s fault because he was too far away having been in the right place for a Rangers attack and then the ball is pumped up the other end and immediately, he would be onto the assistant saying 'this is your call'."
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