Exclusive: Beaton backed despite ‘harsh’ Dundee Utd v Aberdeen call in Euro race
Keith Hackett believes referee John Beaton made the right call in awarding a crucial penalty to Dundee United during their win over Aberdeen.
The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that Beaton had the right position and experience to award the spot for a challenge on Ryan Strain by Ante Palaversa.
It was a dramatic meeting between the two sides in the final game of the season at Tannadice Park on Saturday (17 May).
Initially, Aberdeen had taken the lead through Jeppe Okkels on the 15 minutes mark, which was enough to give them a half time lead.
Dundee United fight back to earn provisional Europa League spot
After the break, the hosts would equalise through Declan Gallagher, before being given the chance to go in front from the spot.
That would come after Strain went down after making contact with the outstretched leg of Palaversa inside a crowded penalty area, which prompted Beaton to award the spot kick.
Sam Dalby then stepped up to fire home, which proved to be enough to earn Dundee United a 2-1 win on the day.
As a result, Jim Goodwin‘s side leapfrogged Aberdeen into fourth in the Scottish Premiership table, ensuring they are currently due to compete in the Europa League next season.
The Dons meanwhile finished fifth, ensuring they have to settle for Conference League qualification unless they beat Celtic in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday (24 May) to reclaim the Europa League spot.
| Position | Played | GD | Points |
| 3. Hibernian | 38 | +12 | 58 |
| 4. Dundee United | 38 | -9 | 53 |
| 5. Aberdeen | 38 | -13 | 53 |
Aberdeen arguments dismissed over vital spot kick
Now Hackett has backed the decision of Beaton to award a penalty kick that proved so important in the context of the season.
After being asked by Football Insider what he made of the decision to award that penalty to Dundee United, the former referee said:
“I mean he is one of the most experienced referees in Scotland but it looks a harsh call on the face of it.
“But I’m going to go with the referee because of his position. I think his position and the firmness with which he awards it sells the decision for me.
“I think any hesitancy, you’re not going to give it. It’s a tight call. VAR can’t intervene. It’s one of those decisions that it has a degree of subjectivity in it.
“I suppose this is the difficulty around refereeing. The important thing here is, you’ve got a very experienced referee who’s ideally positioned to see the contact and judge the foul.
“The problem you’ve got is it’s this careless challenge, which has a low threshold that allows the referee to make that call, and that’s what he’s done.”
An even more serious incident would occur at full time in this match, when Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie was struck in the head by an object thrown from the crowd.