Livingston boss David Martindale felt the snub at Ibrox could cost him his job at the Premiership strugglers
10:23, 24 Nov 2025
Jay Bothroyd declared that John Beaton should be SACKED for the decision to snub Livingston’s penalty claim against Rangers.
Ibrox defender Emmanuel Fernandez blocked a shot from Tete Yengi with his arm with the game level at 1-1 but referee Ross Hardie was not send to the pitchside monitor to review the incident.
The SFA clarified to Record Sport that the official guidance indicated that it was shot proximity and that Fernandez’s arm position was natural for his movement that saw John Beaton in the VAR room decline to step in.
Lions boss David Martindale was enraged after the final whistle – and claimed the call could cost him his jobs with Livingston languishing at the foot of the Scottish Premiership.
Irked former Cardiff City and Wolves strikers Bothroyd told Sky Sports Ref Watch: “He is 100 per cent right there.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher and pundit Jay Bothroyd
“That can cost manager’s their job, and saying sorry afterwards means absolutely nothing, because you have put someone out of a job.
“You have cost them the living. That is outrageously bad. That is terrible. The ball has consistently gone in the same direction and hit his hand.”
Asked if Livi should receive an apology from the SFA, former Premier League referee Gallagher said: “It’s not going to change anything. It’s after the event.
“I want to be fair to everyone. I looked and looked and I can’t see where it has hit any part of his body. I am at a loss.”
Yengi’s shot is blocked by Fernandez(Image: SNS Group)
Bothroyd then went in on Beaton, adding: “You know, decisions like that should cost the people in the VAR room their jobs.
“If a manager was to get sacked from a decision like that, it should (work) the opposite way around. You can’t keep making back decisions like that, because it will costs manager’s their livelihood.”
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