SFA makes 'statement' to Rangers and Celtic amid 'avoidable' Old Firm situation

The SFA has sent a message to Rangers and Celtic after John Beaton has been appointed as referee for the game between the two sides on Sunday (7 April), according to Rory Loy.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast on Wednesday (3 April), the pundit said it was an "avoidable situation" after Brendan Rodgers recently received a touchline ban for criticising the official when he was on VAR for the Hoops' 2-0 defeat against Hearts.

But he believes the governing body has decided to show that it is "not going to be influenced" by backing the official to take charge of the Old Firm clash at Ibrox.

"We're not blessed with a full array of referees to choose from," said Loy. "So from time to time, these situations are going to crop up where a referee's been criticised by a particular manager who ends up in charge of an important fixture a couple of weeks down the line.

"On this particular occasion, I don't know if it's a statement from the referees to say 'look, we're not going to be influenced by noise from the outside, we're going to appoint who we feel is best to appoint'.

"It did seem like an avoidable situation, but they have decided to, in my opinion, make a statement by saying 'we're not going to be influenced'."

Has the SFA sent a message to Rangers and Celtic with John Beaton appointment?

It was quite a surprise to see that Beaton has been appointed as the referee for the game after Rodgers' recent comments about the official.

But the SFA clearly feels it wants to make a point by backing him to take charge of what is often a difficult fixture to keep on top of.

While the Celtic boss probably won't be too impressed by the decision, he will just be pleased to be on the touchline after he was handed a one-game ban to avoid being in the stands at Ibrox.

But everyone will be hoping there isn't any talk around the officiating after in-game decisions have dominated the headlines after both Old Firm clashes this season.

It would just be good for the focus to be entirely on the action on the field as the Glasgow rivals look to gain an advantage in their bids to lift the title in the next few weeks.

In other Rangers news, a pundit has reacted to an accusation aimed at the SFA following an Old Firm development. 

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