Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt has been handed a four-match ban for his social media comments criticising the penalty decision that gave Celtic a 3-2 win at Fir Park in May. The Scottish FA also fined Motherwell £5,000 for their official response to the incident.
Incident and Reaction
The controversy erupted during the penultimate game of the season when Celtic were awarded an injury-time penalty after a VAR check. Referee John Beaton, after consulting the monitor at the recommendation of Andrew Dallas, deemed that Sam Nicholson's aerial challenge on Austin Trusty was a handball. Kelechi Iheanacho converted the spot kick in the 99th minute to seal the win.
Watt took to social media to call the decision "the worst VAR decision in history." Motherwell also posted a video stating: "As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus."
Disciplinary Hearing
Both Watt and the club were cited by the Scottish FA for breaching Rule 72, which prohibits criticism of match officials that indicates bias or incompetence. At the hearing on July 16, 2026, Motherwell was found guilty and fined £5,000, while Watt admitted his breach and received a four-match ban.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who was in charge of the Edinburgh club during the title battle with Celtic, also faces the same charge for branding the penalty decision "disgusting." His hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday at Hampden.
Rule 72 Details
Rule 72 states that no club, official, or player under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall criticise match officials in a manner that implies bias or incompetence, whether in interviews, blogs, or social media. The rule applies regardless of how the remarks come to the attention of the governing body.
