J. Beaton has been confirmed as referee for Celtic’s Scottish Premiership derby against Rangers on Sunday, 20 September 2026. He is joined by D. McGeachie and J. Bell as assistant referees, with R. Lee taking the fourth official’s role. Official appointment data released ahead of the fixture did not name a VAR official, so no VAR assignment can be confirmed at this stage.
Official Match Officials Lineup
The full team of officials for the Glasgow derby is now in place. Celtic supporters weighing up how the match might be handled will want to know exactly who is in charge before kick-off.
- Referee: J. Beaton
- Assistant Referees: D. McGeachie, J. Bell
- Fourth Official: R. Lee
- VAR: Not confirmed in official appointment data
The absence of a named VAR official is not unusual at this stage of an appointment release, but it means Celtic fans should treat any reports naming a VAR as unconfirmed until the club or league body issues further detail.
J. Beaton’s Season Statistics
Beaton has taken charge of four matches so far in the 2026/27 season. His disciplinary figures give an early picture of how strictly he is likely to officiate the derby.
| Metric | Total | Per Match Average |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Refereed | 4 | – |
| Yellow Cards | 22 | 5.5 |
| Straight Red Cards | 0 | 0.0 |
An average of 5.5 yellow cards per game across his four matches this season points to a referee who has been willing to reach for his notebook. Notably, he has not shown a straight red card in any of those four outings.
Club Records Under J. Beaton
Both clubs have a lengthy history with Beaton in the middle. His most recent games involving Celtic and Rangers separately give supporters a sense of how each side has fared under his whistle.
| Stat | Celtic | Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 9 | 8 |
| Wins | 7 | 4 |
| Draws | 1 | 2 |
| Losses | 1 | 2 |
Celtic have won seven of their last nine matches with Beaton as referee, losing just once. Rangers’ record over their last eight games under him is more mixed, with four wins, two draws and two defeats.
Tactical, FPL and Betting Impact
Beaton’s card average this season suggests both sides can expect a physical, closely policed derby rather than a game allowed to flow. With 5.5 yellows per match, players who sit close to a suspension threshold, whether through accumulated bookings or recent cautions, carry extra risk on Sunday.
What Beaton’s Record Means for FPL Managers
For FPL managers, defenders and midfielders involved in high-tempo, high-contact duels are more likely to pick up a card under this kind of officiating pattern, which can matter for those tracking bonus points or planning ahead for suspension-related transfers.
The clean sheet on straight reds across Beaton’s four games this season is also worth noting. Nothing in his record so far points to a referee inclined to reduce a team to ten men outright, though second yellow cards remain possible given his overall booking rate.
Celtic and Rangers’ Records Under Beaton
Celtic’s strong recent record under Beaton, seven wins from nine, will offer some reassurance to supporters, even as the club’s form is examined elsewhere; Martin O’Neill addressed team form in his own recent comments. Rangers’ more even record under this referee, by contrast, gives little indication of a pattern either way heading into the derby.
None of these figures should be read as a prediction of outcome or as any suggestion about how Beaton intends to referee this specific fixture. They are simply the record he brings into it, alongside the broader context of both clubs’ recent domestic and European performances heading into the weekend.
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