SFA bans Motherwell midfielder four games fines club £5,000

Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt has been suspended for four matches and the Scottish Premiership club fined 5,000 pounds after criticizing a controversial late penalty awarded to Celtic in a pivotal match last season. The sanctions were imposed by the Scottish Football Association following a disciplinary hearing on July 16, 2026.

The punishment stems from a social media post by Watt, who described a stoppage-time penalty decision as "the worst VAR decision in history." The incident occurred during Celtic's 3-2 victory at Fir Park in the penultimate match of the 2025-26 season. With the game deep into added time, referee John Beaton initially saw no infraction but was advised by VAR official Andrew Dallas to review a potential handball by Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson. After reviewing the footage, Beaton awarded the penalty, which Celtic forward Kelechi Iheanacho converted to secure a dramatic win.

Following the match, Motherwell's official social media channels also posted footage of the incident with a statement that read, "As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus." Both Watt and the club were charged with...