Motherwell are set to take legal advice after being slapped with a £5,000 SFA fine for a social media post following Celtic’s controversial penalty winner in May’s explosive Fir Park clash. The Fir Park club were fined over a post made after the 3-2 defeat to the Hoops at Fir Park in May.
Elliot Watt handed four-game ban
Well ace Elliot Watt has also been hammered with a FOUR game ban for his own comments on X following the 3-2 defeat to the Hoops. The midfielder will miss the Steelmen’s opening to the season after admitting breaking SFA rules over criticising officials at a Hampden disciplinary hearing yesterday.
But the Steelmen are furious at the fine imposed for their remarks and have demanded Hampden beaks provide written reasons for their sanction.
Club statement expresses disappointment
A statement said: “The club are extremely disappointed at the outcome of today’s hearing in relation to the Scottish FA’s notice of complaint. The notice of complaint related to a social media post and related video that was published following our last home game of the 2025/26 season. The club have requested the written reasons in relation to the decision, and thereafter we will liaise with our external solicitors on any next steps.”
Record Sport understands this refers to the fine only and not the punishment dished out to Watt.
Controversial penalty decision
Celtic took all three points thanks to the injury time penalty awarded after a VAR check on Sam Nicholson’s aerial challenge with Austin Trusty. Referee John Beaton penalised the Well player for handball after being called to the monitor by Andrew Dallas and Kelechi Iheanacho slotted home the winner in the 99th minute.
Fuming Well ace Watt later branded the call “the worst VAR decision in history” on social media. And Motherwell posted a video declaring: “As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus”.
Breach of rule 72
But both were cited by the governing body for a breach of rule 72. And yesterday’s hearing found Motherwell guilty while Watt admitted his breach. The playmaker was sent off on the final day of the season against Hibs meaning he is now set to miss the first FIVE games of the domestic season.
Derek McInnes also faces the same charge for branding the penalty decision “disgusting”. The Rangers boss was in charge of Hearts at the time and was in the midst of a titanic title battle with the Hoops which would end three days later with the Hoops securing a dramatic late victory over the Jambos to top the table by two points.
McInnes’ hearing will be held next Wednesday at Hampden.
Rule 72 details
Rule 72 states no player, coach or team official can “in an interview, a ‘blog’ on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the decision(s) and/or performance(s) of any or all match official(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character.”
