Motherwell's £5,000 Fine Upheld After VAR Controversy

Motherwell have failed in their bid to cut a £5,000 fine for their furious reaction to a last-gasp VAR penalty against Celtic – but former midfielder Elliot Watt has seen his suspension eased.

The Scottish FA’s appeal panel backed the original decision to sanction the club over a social media post that followed referee John Beaton’s late call at Fir Park in May, when a VAR review penalised Sam Nicholson for handball in stoppage time.

The post, which featured the line “as the world of football mocks our game” and a video montage of the incident from the 3-2 defeat, was judged to have crossed the line. The governing body ruled it breached regulations prohibiting criticism of match officials that suggests “bias or incompetence”.

Kelechi Iheanacho buried the resulting spot-kick with the final touch of the match, sparking outrage in the Motherwell camp and across sections of Scottish football.

Watt, now at Samsunspor in Turkey, also landed in trouble for his response. He branded the award the “worst VAR decision in history” on his X account and was initially hit with a four-game suspension.

That ban has now been cut. The appeal panel reduced it to a two-match suspension, with a further two games suspended until the end of next season, leaving the 24-year-old with a clear warning over any future comments.

Both club and player were found to have breached the same SFA rules on public criticism of officials. The case adds another layer to a decision that has already sent shockwaves through the dugouts.

Only last week, Rangers manager Derek McInnes had his own punishment trimmed on appeal for remarks about the very same incident. Then in charge of Hearts, he described the call as “disgusting” in a television interview and claimed “we are up against everybody”. His three-game touchline ban became two, with one match effectively wiped from the immediate tally.

The message from the SFA is stark enough. The debate over VAR can rage on, but anyone in Scottish football who takes aim at officials with accusations of bias or incompetence is now playing with fire.