'An honest mistake' - Martindale accepts Beaton apology

Manager David Martindale says John Beaton phoned him to apologise for Livingston incorrectly being denied a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Rangers last weekend.

Beaton was the VAR at Ibrox but neglected to advise match official Ross Hardie to review the footage after Livingston striker Teti Yengi's shot struck the arm of Emmanuel Fernandez when the score was 1-1.

Livingston chairman Calvin Ford said on Wednesday the Scottish FA had admitted it was a mistake not to award a spot-kick.

And Martindale said: "I think it was a high level discussion at the club. John phoned me personally. Good discussion. I've not got a problem with it, honestly. It's an honest mistake.

"That's where we were. We move on. There's no use me sitting here talking about it any more because I'm not going to use any of my time and energy on a decision that ruined what should have been a half-decent weekend for the club and the players."

Martindale also called for officials in the Scottish Premiership and Championship to be made full-time over the next few years to improve the standard.

He said: "I think we've got to get to a place where officials for at least the two top leagues are full-time, whether that's a bank of 14, 16, 24 officials.

"For me, the only way forward would be are you going to be better at your job if that's your only job? Are you going to be better at your job if you're putting more hours into your job? I feel that's the only avenue open now.

"I don't think this is a refereeing problem. I think this is a Scottish football problem. And it's not something we can push to the side and say the referees need to deal with that. I don't think that's fair.

"I think as a collective, SPFL, SFA and the clubs, we need to find a better solution to use the technology better, and I think the only way to do that would realistically be full-time referees for the top two leagues."