Parkhead men will fight any SFA charge made against Boyd
on the part of a referee. However, after news of the SFA investigation emerged, Celtic released a statement, saying: ‘We have had absolutely no contact from the SFA in relation to this matter and, given the context and circumstances in which the comments were made, would be astonished if the matter were to be progressed. ‘If it is, then we will respond robustly.’ In the event that the club are found to have broken the rules, they are likely to be hit with a low-level fine. The case will not be dealt with under the ‘fast-track’ system used for on-field offences, so Celtic could face a wait of several weeks before discovering if they are to be called to account. Asked for his take on a penalty claim for handball against a Dunfermline defender that Beaton did not award, Boyd said: ‘That’s a penalty. It’s a penalty kick. ‘His arms are up in an unnatural position and it’s a stonewall penalty. And once again, Celtic denied by decisions by the referee — and the referee has bottled that. ‘That’s an absolutely scandalous decision by John Beaton. We’ve seen that before on many occasions. ‘It’s unquestionably a penalty. It probably should have been a handball but that was a stonewall penalty-kick. ‘It’s clear it’s a penalty. In the light of day, he’s putting his hand towards the ball, heading towards goal. ‘What does John Beaton not know about the new rules? If he doesn’t know that’s a penalty he should not be refereeing a football game. ‘He’ll probably be welcome down his pub tonight again.’ At half-time in extra-time, Boyd continued to question the referee’s performance. He said: ‘Old law, new law. No matter what kind of law it is, that is a penalty in anybody’s book. ‘How John Beaton hasn’t given that, we’ve seen it before from referees like this, John Beaton not giving us a penalty kick. ‘Absolutely stunning decision from Mr Beaton as he stands in the middle of the park alone. ‘And I wonder what his thoughts are. I’m not mystified. John Beaton, it’s obviously a pre-meditated decision not to give that penalty because it was so late in the game.’ When asked by Celtic TV commentator Gerry McDade whether he thought the injury to Pars keeper Ryan Scully had any effect in the decision not to give a penalty, Boyd refused to agree and claimed the Scottish champions were up against ‘12 men’. ‘It’s got absolutely nothing to do with that,’ he added. ‘It’s come off his arm. Regardless of whether there are players down or whatever he has still given the corner-kick. ‘An absolutely outrageous decision from John Beaton. ‘We’ve not played well today. But a decision once again from a referee may cost us in this game. ‘Hopefully we will go on and beat, not the ten men or the 11 men of Dunfermline, but the 12 men with that decision from John Beaton.’
CELTIC last night vowed to fight a potential SFA charge after the compliance officer began investigating comments made by former skipper Tom Boyd on the club’s official TV channel. Boyd, a Parkhead ambassador, was co-commentator on the Celtic TV broadcast of the Betfred Cup match against Dunfermline on Saturday. Heavily critical of match referee John Beaton’s decisions — in particular over a penalty call that wasn’t given — the 53-year-old claimed his side were facing ‘12 men’ before Neil Lennon’s side won the game 2-1 in extra-time. Although Boyd himself cannot be cited, Celtic could face action if it’s deemed they broke rule 38, article 29.2 of the governing body’s Judicial Panel Protocol where club media is prohibited from implying bias or incompetence