Latest news with #JohnBeaton
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Michael Stewart launches fiery tirade at Hearts hierarchy after Scottish Cup exit
The former Jambos midfielder has accused the club of 'playing to the gallery' after their statement following the Scottish Cup defeat to Aberdeen. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart launched a long and fiery tirade not just against referee John Beaton but also against the club itself following their Scottish Cup semi final exit to Aberdeen. Michael Stewart didn't hold back when discussing Hearts' Scottish Cup semi final defeat to Aberdeen and the club's statement in the aftermath (Pic: SNS) | SNS Group The BBC Scotland and Premier Sports pundit was speaking with former Rangers and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton as well as host Darrell Currie on the latest episode of the Scottish Football Social Club show. It came after Hearts released a statement questioning the actions of Beaton who sent off Michael Steinwender and Cammy Devlin with the Jambos being beaten 2-1 in extra time and finishing the match with nine men. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stewart touched on multiple issues from the match itself to head coach Neil Critchley and the board of directors, making reference to previous comments made by CEO Andrew Critchley. You can watch the full segment on Premier Sports YouTube channel or read what was said below... Michael Stewart takes aim at Hearts hierarchy after Scottish Cup exit First up, Stewart spoke on Cammy Devlin's sending off in the semi final defeat to Aberdeen. He also touched on the match as a whole. He said: 'First and foremost, Hearts were the better team in the first half in regards to a straight shoot out between the two teams. The sending off just before half time changes the dynamic completely so it becomes a different style of game and then Heart's as a defensive outfit I thought looked pretty comfortable. 'Aberdeen huffed and puffed without really threatening them too much. Touching on the second yellow card, just ludicrous. Okay it's a free kick it's a free kick, John Beaton understandably gives it but it's never a yellow card and I just find that so disappointing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Now I see Hearts' statement coming out and you understand the frustration of course, it's a semi-final and the referee's made a mistake. I'm trying to be as balanced as possible, I don't think you could say it had a material effect on the game that second yellow card.' Host Darrell Currie jumped in at this point, asking: 'How could you say that though? Because even psychologically you're hanging on with 10 then, you go down to nine, it's a bad decision as well. I know what you're saying, that might not have had an impact on the goal. Do you not think it's still a massive moment in the game, who even knows that the placings of the players on the eventual winning goal having an extra man in the park might have helped?" Stewart responded: 'I hear all you're saying and there is an argument for that but in my view it's not like, for example they've scored straight from the free kick, or there's been another incident in the middle of the park where they've lost the ball and they're outnumbered because there's a man down. I get what you're saying but I don't see it as being so blatant that it was a direct consequence of that sending off that led to the goal. 'They were good Hearts, they were. There's credit to be given there but the most important thing is getting through a cup final and that's what Aberdeen have done. Aberdeen were poor but they managed to get through to a cup final and that's all that really counts and for Hearts, as much as you can point to certain things and say the performance was good, that sending off has changed the game, defensively they looks sound. There's bigger picture issues and bigger picture decisions to be made about Hearts and I just don't think that this game alters or changes that dramatically.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Discussing Neil Critchley's half time substitutions where defender Frankie Kent and Craig Halkett replaced strikers James Wilson and Elton Kabangu, Stewart commented: 'It's a fair enough point but this is what I would say about what happened there and forgive me for going back and harping on about this point but it's a pertinent point as far as I'm concerned. If Hearts had a balanced team with pace you could have gone to the defensive setup that they had and still been a real threat going forward. 'So it becomes a difficult situation for Neil Critchley, does he leave himself a little bit more exposed at the back to try to have the threat up top or does he look to contain? It was effectively trying to play for penalties or trying to get a set piece and hope you get something from that but it's because the team and the squad is so imbalanced the options to be able to do other things were very slim. 'You look at the quality that comes on, Frankie Kent's a good defender, Craig Halkett barring the injuries is a very good defender and Kingsley likewise. They don't have the equivalent of that in forward areas or wide areas in terms of the quality so they become very limited in what they're able to do and I thought the decisions he's made almost paid off perfectly but at the same time it still highlights what that team has been sorely lacking for years.' Hutton and Stewart react to Hearts club statement Reacting to the statement released by Hearts, Alan Hutton commented: 'I don't have a problem with it, personally. I think if they feel the need to let everybody know and voice their opinion on what's happened to them this season, then no problem. I think the Cammy Devlin one, it was rubbish. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The second you look up, he's not even looking, he's going to clear the ball, and he catches him on the foot. Play on, they still had possession of the ball, they could have still attacked, they could have done something, so they could have just went, right, play on, and then after it, the referee just has to say to them, look, watch what you're doing, you've already been booked, just calm it, or whatever it may be. I've not got a problem with Hearts coming out and saying what they feel moving forward, and it needs to get better, because at times it hasn't been good enough, simple as that.' Stewart then returned to the conversation, saying: "I was just going to say, not that I disagree with that, but I just feel at times, clubs coming out with statements like that and then saying 'don't take our silence for inaction'. Previously in the season that was a quote that they came out with. I just feel it's playing to the galleries a wee bit. 'I suppose it's probably just my slight hesitation and reluctance to feel like the board are making good decisions. I'm probably being a wee bit prejudice this year in terms of all the other things that I've got concerns about with the board. 'There was a fairly heated debate that I heard. Big Chris Sutton was saying that Neil Critchley's job was to keep hearts up, which is utter garbage, like total nonsense. Use Andrew McKinley's own words, he said himself, way after Neil Critchley had already been appointed, that he still felt they were going to get in the top six, and they were going to qualify for Europe. So there's a stark difference between getting into Europe, top six, and qualifying for Europe, and getting relegated. There's a huge difference between those two things. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The job was not for hearts to stay in the division. The job was clearly to try and push to get into the top six. They've not done that. My issues and my concerns are that for a number of years, footballing decisions have been poor and, also, which probably leads me to say what I just said there about feeling like they're playing to the galleries slightly is that Hearts are a fan-owned club, which I think is brilliant, but in any system like that, you still have a hierarchy, and you still have to have people, strong people making strong decisions. 'I feel too often, they follow what they hear outside. To me, that is not a healthy way to run something. You can't run by committee. It doesn't work and when you look at the poor footballing decisions that have been made, managerial appointments, not a particularly great track record, you look at the deficiencies in the squad, and it's been like that for a number of years. Not particularly great. This is a club that takes huge sums of money in from the fans 'I don't think it's been spent and invested as wisely as it could. The business side of the club has been done brilliantly for a number of years. Fantastic. The whole setup of the club is perfectly placed for Hearts. Over the last three or four years, with the guaranteed group stage European football, to have kicked on and I don't think it has kicked on. I think it's stagnated slightly and now they're in the bottom six, which is regression. 'So, to look at the status quo and Neil Critchley moving into next season. Is he the manager? Is he not the manager? Or whatever, right? I mean, it's irrespective of whether he stays or he goes. You can guarantee that if he's in charge to start the next season, if they don't start the season well, you know what happens. Come October, November, it will be rinse and repeat." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stewart questions Jamestown Analytics role in Hearts recruitment Finally, the former Jambos midfielder brought the role that Jamestown Analytics plays in the club's recruitment of players into the spotlight. It came after his fellow panellists had brought up the new contracts signed by Adam Forrester and James Wilson last week. On those deals, Stewart said: 'This is catch up. This is stuff that has been apparent to many people. I'm not suggesting it's the manager's fault. I'm still talking about the club as a whole here. When you then talk about the manager, for example, look, I'm just not sure. He's not a leader for me. Are Hearts going to maximise their potential with the current set-up in place. I don't think they will. That's just my honest opinion. 'Let's look at the recruitment side of things here in Jamestown Analytics. I'm not really sure why or how you need a data analytics company to tell you about Harry Milne, who's a left-back in the Scottish your scout, use his two eyes and tell you what he thinks. "Jamie McCart, I don't understand why you need the data. Surely you merge the two things, the data and your eyes, to then form the opinion. There has to be an identity to that and my fear is that it becomes a little bit of a discord group and that becomes more difficult to knit things together. Great to see young Wilson and Forrester getting new contracts but I do think you need to really, really be careful and make sure that that spine of the team, not just the periphery, but the spine of the team, is more domestic. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "I think it is a big summer because there's a group of players there as well who have done very well over a number of years but they are at the stage where they probably need to be replaced in the squad as a whole. The likes of Kingsley's been picking up a few injuries. He becomes more difficult to rely upon. Craig Halkett even more so. Lawrence Shankland is probably going to leave, it would look like. "The midfield as a whole, of which there is a plethora of midfielders, but none of them that balance out with Beningame, who is a good player, I thought he was very good on Saturday. He just needs that support around him and he's not really got that, so he needs more support in the middle of the park. He needs wide players, he needs another winger. "They've obviously signed a right back, that's one that they need. What's going to happen with Craig Gordon? That's an interesting one. 42-year-old, Scotland's number one, but it doesn't appear like they're moving forward at the moment, I'm not sure. So there is a fair bit of work that's needed."
Daily Record
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
The blatant contempt Celtic are held in by jealous rivals will rob a man of his rightful prize
Hearts have come out swinging at officials over their Scottish Cup semi final defeat to Aberdeen. Tynecastle chiefs want answers from the SFA after ref John Beaton sent off Michael Steinwender and Cammy Devlin - before adding a third after the full time whistle as he flashed red at assistant boss Mike Garrity. Hotline callers, however, have already made up their minds on the matter. Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: 'Once again the outcome of a cup game at Hampden has been influenced by the inept performance of the match officials. The first red card for Hearts is debatable on the basis that there was a defender capable of covering. The second booking for Devlin was a disgrace, he had his eyes fully on the ball and the Aberdeen player nicks in just as he goes to play it, making the contact accidental. Too often now games have been won and lost through the ineptitude of our referees and I have no doubt that Beaton and his match officials done Hearts out of a place in the final.' But Ian Urquhart isn't impressed with the Jambos' claims.. He emailed: 'All season we have had to listen to what Hearts were going to do this season, first it was split the Old Firm, then get third, then top six and win the Scottish Cup. Now it's the referee's fault for cheating. What a lot of nonsense that lot talk, the sooner they realise they are an average team in the bottom half of the league for a reason the better. At this stage they still could be in a relegation scrap. Third team in Scotland? They're not even the third biggest in Edinburgh.' And Hibee Neil Renton, Leith, couldn't resist chipping in. He said: 'I had to check that it wasn't the first of April when I read Hearts'l statement. Maybe they should print out loads of the statement and use it to paper over the cracks at Tynie. The Gorgie mob are in free fall and they're at fault - not officials.' Celtic cantered into the final with a 5-0 win over St Johnstone and Brendan Rodgers now stands on the brink of a historic third domestic treble as boss. Gordon Ashley, Ayr, said: 'There is only one choice for manager of the year. Brendan Rodgers has re-established Celtic as Scotland's top European club and the only one competing at the top level. He's also made us the world's most successful football club and if he completes the Treble will make this our greatest season since Lisbon. Case closed.' But Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, argued: 'Celtic fans are being disrespectful to Aberdeen as the Scottish Cup is still to play for. Brendan Rodgers claiming a historic treble? They should wait and not count their chickens before they hatch.' Stephen Mulhern, Dumbarton, said: 'That was a five star performance against a side that have had a fantastic Scottish Cup record in recent years. Even with Maeda playing out wide when I believe his best position is centre forward he still weighed in with two goals. However, despite his goal, Adam Idah still flatters to deceive and if Kyogo is open to a move back next season Rodgers should prioritise this.' Scott McAdam, Glasgow, took aim at regular caller Alan Flett when he said: 'What a performance from the champions, no doubt we will be told we are playing no one by Alan Flett and few others. But it will be great to see title number 55 done and a cup final to look forward to. Over at Ibrox I hear they are leaving a phone box for the fans to get in so they can enjoy all the dead rubbers they have left.' And Stephen McDonald emailed: 'So Rangers have ended the season with no trophies again, everyone knew this at start of the season except Rangers fans. The simple fact is that the next Old Firm is a dead rubber. For Celtic our only priority left this season is the Scottish Cup and it has been for a while.'
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hearts backed in John Beaton red card row as former ref calls for VAR rule change
Des Roache believes the Jambos have a case against Beaton after questioning both Cammy Devlin yellow cards Former ref Des Roache believes John Beaton messed up by sending Cammy Devlin off for a second yellow card at Hampden. The Hearts midfielder was dismissed following a second booking at the national stadium, reducing the Jambos ti nine men after Michael Stenweinder wa sshown a straight red in the first half. And Aberdeen punished them by netting a 188th minute winner moments after Devlin;s departure to book their Scottish Cup Final place. The Tynecastle club released a statement on Tuesday demanding answers from the SFA as to why Devlin received either of his "unwarranted" yellows, as well as other decisions that have gone against them this season. And Roache believes they have a case against Beaton. Speaking on Record Sport's Hotline Live, he said: "I thought John Beaton made an error. I don't think the second yellow card is justified. " Cammy Devlin made a genuine attempt to play the ball. Dante Polvara is coming from behind - it's just a foul. If it even is a foul, not every foul is a yellow card. Not every physical contact is a yellow card. "What is Cammy Devlin meant to do there? If I'm a manager or a coach, I'm asking my player to try and clear that ball. "As a referee, maybe I'm looking at it differently than John Beaton. But at that moment, the player has made a genuine attempt to play the ball, nit any lunging contact. "For me, it's not a foul and John Beaton has made an error." Currently, VAR can't get involved with yellow card decisions. But Roache has called for that to be looked at when it's a second caution and is the difference between a player being sent for an early bath or not. He said: "I completely agree because it does have a fundamental impact upon the game. Hearts are then down to nine men. "What are the words that we always hear? Clear and obvious error. "Now if there's a yellow card offence, I understand that under the current laws of the game, a yellow card can't be considered a clear and obvious error. "But this is. It is a clear and obvious error. And VAR should be getting involved. I really think that's an area that has to be looked at. "I was always told as a referee, if you're giving a second yellow card, everybody in the world has to know it;s a second yellow card and that's why the player has been sent off. "That's how you sell the decision as everybody goes 'aw, he's already been yellow carded, that's stupid, he;s got to go off.' "For that one? I can guarantee that none of us think that's a second yellow card." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
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Scotsman
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts lash out at John Beaton with 484-word statement after controversy in Aberdeen Scottish Cup semi-final
Devlin sending off left the Jambos with nine men in closing stages Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts have publicly hit out at referee John Beaton's decision to send off midfielder Cammy Devlin in the 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Aberdeen and say that the club and its supporters 'deserve better' given what was at stake at Hampden. The Jambos - who had been down to ten men since the 44th minute following a red card for defender Michael Steinwender - appeared on course for penalties against the Dons after battling valiantly with a solid defensive effort. However, Devlin was dismissed with four minutes remaining in extra time for a second yellow card following a foul on Aberdeen's Dante Polvara. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After the match, head coach Neil Critchley and many of the Hearts players took umbrage at Beaton's decision, which they felt gave Aberdeen fresh impetus in the closing stages of the match. The Dons went on to book their place in the final next month against Celtic two minutes later when Oday Dabbagh netted the winner - with Hearts claiming that the goal came from the area where Devlin would have been stationed. Referee John Beaton sent off Hearts' Cammy Devlin during the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen. | SNS Group While giving Aberdeen credit for 'making the most of their opportunity' on Saturday afternoon, Hearts say they should not have been reduced to nine men and have pointed to being one of the clubs most penalised by incorrect refereeing decisions this season. They say that they will remain in dialogue with the Scottish Football Association and 'determine what can be done to learn from them [perceived errors] and ensure that they are not repeated'. A lengthy statement on the Hearts website posted on Monday afternoon read: 'Now that the dust has settled on Saturday's Scottish Cup semi-final, everyone at Heart of Midlothian Football Club would like to say thank you to our supporters. 'Your backing is never taken for granted, particularly when it has been a challenging, and ultimately disappointing, season. To have nearly 22,000 Jambos inside Hampden Park was an incredible feat, and your support undoubtedly inspired the team on the pitch to battle until the very end, where, against all odds, it looked as if the players had earned the opportunity to take the match to penalty kicks, and deservedly so. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Directly affected the outcome' 'While we give credit to Aberdeen for making the most of their opportunity in the 118th minute to win the tie, we take issue with the refereeing decision immediately preceding it. It is the club's view that neither yellow card issued to Cammy Devlin in the match was warranted and we should not have been put in the position of having to finish the game with nine men, which directly affected the outcome. 'Saturday came on the back of other decisions this season that have also not gone in our favour. It is often quoted that errors generally balance themselves out across a season. However, a cursory glance at the KMI Review Panel published reports show that we have benefitted once from errors in our favour – the joint second lowest in the Premiership – and have suffered four errors against – the joint second highest in the Premiership. Public silence on our part should not be mistaken for inaction. Throughout the season we have maintained dialogue with the Scottish FA on these matters, and while we always prefer to air our grievances in private, on this occasion, given the magnitude of the occasion that was a Scottish Cup semi-final and what was at stake, we believe that the club and, most importantly, its supporters deserve better. 'Once again, we will engage with the Scottish FA in an attempt to understand why these decisions are made, see acknowledgement as to when they are indeed wrong and determine what can be done to learn from them to ensure that they are not repeated. Cammy Devlin trudges off after his red card. | SNS Group 'When circumstances are under our control we will do our best to act appropriately. The club has recently publicly declared that this season has not been good enough and it is our intention not to see it repeated. When circumstances are outwith our control, such as refereeing decisions, then our supporters should know that be it publicly or privately, we will always challenge for the benefit of the club and its fans, because as owners, they deserve to have their voices heard. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Again, we thank our supporters for their unrivalled backing, not just on Saturday but across the entire season, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Tynecastle Park this weekend as we all strive to finish this campaign as strongly as possible.'
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hearts 'cheated' out of penalty shootout by John Beaton as Gary Mackay urges Jambos to demand SFA answers
Beaton showed Cammy Devlin a second yellow card in extra time against Aberdeen after dismissing Michael Steinwender Gary Mackay claims Hearts were "cheated" out of a penalty shootout with Aberdeen and has urged the club to demand answers form the SFA over John Beaton's performance. Beaton showed sent Michael Steinwender off two minutes before the break after the Austrian wiped out Topi Keskinen, then flashed a second yellow at Cammy Devlin with just four minutes left of extra-time, after the Aussie caught Dante Polvara when attempting to make a clearance. And the Dons took advantage to eventually find a way past nine-man Hearts when Oday Dabbagh scored the winner two minutes later to send Jimmy Thelin's side through to the final. Jambos boss Neil Critchley was fuming with the whistler - who sent off his assistant Mike Garrity after the final whistle - and accused Beaton of lacking respect when he tried to question him. And Hearts legend Mackay wants the Tynecastle hierarchy to ask the SFA to explain Beaton's display. He said: 'You want the club to definitely make a stance and get in touch with SFA and demand some kind of explanation. 'If you've had three apologies this season (from the SFA) that could be costly and that's the difference between bottom six and top six. 'It also has a financial cost and the management team are viewed a wee bit less positively. 'I always remember my old Hearts boss Alex MacDonald saying about looking at yourself in the mirror at the end of every game, looking at yourself, your teammates and thinking 'I gave it my best'. 'I'm not sure John Beaton could look himself in the mirror after that on Saturday and I'm sure there's other times and there are things. 'We can't as a football club just bow to this guy, I think the players were cheated out of a penalty shootout opportunity. 'These professionals will maybe never get that opportunity again because of somebody's ineptitude." Mackay points to the stats of games Beaton has refereed Hearts in and reckons they tell a story compared to other teams. According to data from Beaton has overseen 58 Hearts games and the Gorgie side have won 19, drawn seven and lost 32. He has also issued some 151 yellows but compared to Celtic and Aberdeen, who he has refereed 59 and 54 times he has only used 84 and 117 cautions respectively Club record appearance holder Mackay added: 'From a footballing perspective we need to make it noted. 'You look at the stats for the games John Beaton has refereed, how many we have won, lost and drawn and the amount of bookings and red cards. "We cannot allow these things to continue to happen and particularly if it's an individual who seems to get a lot of Hearts games. "It's mind-boggling, 151 yellow cards. "What Heart of Midlothian Football Club need to do is say to (Scottish FA chief executive) Ian Maxwell, 'are these numbers what you would be expecting from a referee refereeing in these amount of games?'. 'It's the players I feel for because so many players left every single thing on the pitch on Saturday and they could look at themselves in the mirror after the game and say, yep they gave it their best shot. "But then I look at the referee and as a spectacle for the Hearts fans and players it was ruined by one individual.' Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
