Ex-PGMOL chief stunned by John Beaton controversy after 'very harsh' Aberdeen vs Motherwell red card
Keith Hackett has stated that Motherwell midfielder Oscar Priestman did not deserve to be sent off in the first half of their Scottish Cup fifth-round defeat against Aberdeen.
The former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee exclusively told Football Insider that Priestman’s tackle on Lyall Cameron was not enough to fulfil the requirements of DOGSO (denial of a goalscoring opportunity), and John Beaton was wrong to pull out a red card.
A match full of controversy at Pittodrie saw Aberdeen book their place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 home win over Motherwell.
The game was opened up within moments of kick-off as Priestman received his marching orders in the third minute for taking Cameron down on the edge of the visitors’ penalty area.
Kevin Nisbet then scored from the resulting free-kick, but Aberdeen were soon reduced to ten men too, as Dennis Geiger was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the 23rd minute.
Motherwell went down to nine just after the break as centre-back Liam Gordon also saw red, while Graeme Shinnie made sure of the win just after the hour mark.
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Keith Hackett blasts John Beaton for issuing ‘incorrect’ red card to Oscar Priestman
Motherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly played a loose pass into midfield that was quickly pounced on by the hosts, with Rangers loanee Cameron played through by Geiger.
Priestman was one of the few men back for the visitors, and he slipped while trying to defend against Cameron, causing him to tumble to the floor under a challenge.
Referee Beaton quickly issued a red card to the Motherwell midfielder, but replays showed that the ball was heading into Connelly’s arms, and he had other teammates goalside.
Speaking to Football Insider about the incident, Hackett said: “The issuing of a red card to the Motherwell player is incorrect. The defender slipped, and the sanction is very harsh.
“If the red card was for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity, then that is the incorrect decision due to the covering defenders in position.
“Where is VAR? I guess that he must be in agreement with the referee’s call of a red card.
“He clearly slipped. You can see that there is a covering defender moving towards (the ball), and the goalkeeper is likely to be able to challenge for the ball.”
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John McGinn has his say on VAR after Motherwell drama
Gordon’s second half red card was just as controversial as Priestman’s, as Beaton showed him red after a VAR check for DOGSO in the 48th minute.
He clumsily gave the ball away to Aberdeen substitute Toyosi Olusanya in his own half, and tripped the 28-year-old over with his trailing leg as defenders raced to cover.
Beaton initially brandished a yellow, but upgraded it to red after a VAR review, which was mocked by Aston Villa and Scotland star McGinn on X.
He took to the site to poke fun at a hypothetical situation between the VAR officials and Beaton, writing: “I’ve sent you to the screen let’s send you to an angle from the North Sea to back it up,” as well as: “Scottish var is a mess.”
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