REFEREE John Beaton believes playing games behind closed doors could have advantages for referees.
The top Scots whistler reckons with no crowds in stadiums players will not be able to ignore them by blaming fans.
Officials are often given the rubber ear treatment but Beaton is glad they no longer have the excuse of not being able to hear because of the crowd noise.
He said: “There will be advantages. You’ll be able to hear better on the pitch and there will probably be better communication with the players.
“You won’t get players protesting that they don’t hear you because of the noise, and walking away and stuff like that.
“That makes it a bit easier.”
Beaton kicks off his season at Easter Road where he will take charge of Kilmarnock’s visit to the capital to take on Hibs.
He told Sky Sports: “It will just be a case of finding our feet in the first few matches; I think the same for the players.
“It’s just very, very different and nothing that any of us have experienced on a consistent basis before, and that’s what we’re going to have for the foreseeable future.”
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