Simon Donnelly feared Yang Hyun-jun was about to receive a second yellow card during the closing stages of Celtic’s 1–0 win over Kilmarnock.

The winger was already booked when an incident involving Nicky Cleșcenco briefly threatened to make an uncomfortable finish even nervier.

With Celtic protecting their narrow advantage and Neil McCann protesting on the touchline, John Beaton appeared to move towards his pocket.

That was enough to concern Donnelly in the CelticPlayer commentary box. However, the referee allowed play to continue without producing another card.

“I thought John Beaton was going to his pocket. I don’t think it was a foul, though. I think the lad just fell,” Donnelly said.

“It’s a weird one. John Beaton went to go to his pocket, no sooner had he done it and he changed his mind.”

Donnelly’s interpretation was that Cleșcenco went down without being fouled. The PA match report took a different view, suggesting Yang appeared to pull his opponent down.

What Beaton intended to do cannot be established from a movement towards his pocket. What mattered for Celtic was that Yang remained on the pitch.

The South Korean had replaced Jota at half-time, with O’Neill explaining afterwards that the Portuguese winger was tiring.

There is previous history involving Yang, Beaton and a dismissal, although the officials’ roles were different.

At Tynecastle in March 2024, Don Robertson showed Yang the red card, after being instructed by John Beaton on VAR, upgrading his initial booking for a high challenge on Alex Cochrane.

Brendan Rodgers fiercely criticised the officiating afterwards and subsequently received a two-match touchline ban, with one match suspended.

Sunday produced no repeat dismissal. Celtic finished with eleven players and three points, but the brief scare could’ve changed the game for the Hoops.