John Beaton named Rangers vs Celtic referee weeks after Brendan Rodgers 'incompetent' blast

John Beaton will be the man in the middle for the derby between Rangers and Celtic when the sides face off on Sunday for the third time this season - just a month after Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers was hauled before the SFA beaks for branding him 'incompetent'.

Rodgers was hit with a one-game ban with one suspended for a breach of SFA Disciplinary Rule 72 following defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle as he called out referee Don Robertson and Beaton, who was in the VAR room on that occasion, for the controversial decisions to send off Yang and award a penalty to the Jambos following a handball from Tomoki Iwata. Rodgers said he had no regrets over his post match rant and now Beaton has been handed one of the biggest games of the season.

Beaton's linesman will be Daniel McFarlane and Dougi Potter with Nick Walsh the VAR referee. He is set to be assisted on the technology by Frank Connor while Willie Collum will act as the fourth official. The champions have won both derby clashes this season, including a 1-0 win on their trip to Ibrox in the first Old Firm Premiership derby of the season, and head over the river with a one point lead over the Light Blues who have played a game less.

Rodgers said after the controversial loss to Hearts: "I try to respect decisions and give the benefit of the doubt. But I think when I see that level of incompetence, which is the only word I can use, then that makes me worry for the game. In such a tight title race that can make the difference. I also think that VAR is not the problem here. That’s clear. It’s competence. The sending off when there is no force. Show a still image of that and of course and you will see a foot up with the head near it, but it’s not the reality of the move.

“Don got it