Ex-Hearts Star Gary Mackay Questions Referee John Beaton’s Role After Scottish Cup Exit
Hearts legend Gary Mackay has raised serious concerns over John Beaton’s suitability to officiate the Edinburgh side’s matches following their dramatic Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Aberdeen.
The match at Hampden Park saw Beaton send off defender Michael Steinwender, midfielder Cammy Devlin, and coach Mike Garrity — prompting Hearts to issue a strong public statement condemning the officiating. Mackay, who holds the record for most appearances in a Hearts shirt, echoed those frustrations and called on the Scottish FA to examine Beaton’s continued involvement in the club’s fixtures.
While he acknowledged Steinwender’s red card for denying a clear scoring chance, Mackay criticized the decision to issue two yellows to Devlin — the second of which he believed was an error. Devlin’s dismissal left Hearts with nine men in extra time, and moments later, Aberdeen’s Oday Dabbagh scored the winner, crushing Hearts’ hopes of a penalty shootout and a potential spot in the final — which would have secured group-stage European football and a financial windfall of over £5 million.
“I can accept the first red,” Mackay said. “I wasn’t convinced initially, but on review, it’s understandable. What stood out, though, was how quickly Beaton reached for his pocket — it almost felt like he relished the chance. The second yellow for Cammy Devlin? Never a booking. In fact, I thought Hearts should’ve had the free-kick.”
Mackay pointed to Beaton’s record with Hearts as evidence of bias or poor judgment: in 58 matches under his control, the club has won only 19, with 151 yellow cards and 10 reds handed to their players. Comparatively, Celtic have played 59 times under Beaton, winning 45, with far fewer cards issued. Similar trends were noted in matches involving Aberdeen and Rangers.
Backing the club’s post-match statement, Mackay said: “The management team were furious — and rightly so. They’ve not seen this level of refereeing in England or anywhere else. The club must take a stand. It feels like Beaton has a personal issue with Hearts.”
He went on to criticize the SFA, labeling their officials as “inept” and urging chief executive Ian Maxwell to review the events at Hampden. “Players like Penrice, Baningime, Devlin, Shankland, Kent, and Halkett gave everything. But the referee robbed them of their chance. The cost is not just financial — it’s emotional too. The fans deserved better after the team’s spirited display. I completely understand the outrage from Neil Critchley and Mike Garrity. That level of officiating was simply unacceptable.”
