Motherwell are considering taking legal action against the SFA after the club and their midfielder Elliot Watt were hit with hefty sanctions relating to last season’s VAR controversy against Celtic.
It was announced yesterday that Watt has been handed a four-match ban after branding the late penalty awarded to Celtic as ‘the worst VAR decision in history’ on his social media account.
Motherwell were also fined £5,000 after a post on the club’s official channel appeared to question the decision from referee John Beaton and VAR Andrew Dallas.
In the penultimate match of the season, Celtic won 3-2 away at Fir Park thanks to a highly contentious penalty deep into stoppage-time.
Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have handled the ball despite TV replays proving inconclusive at best, with Celtic claiming a priceless three points on their way to winning the title.
Both Motherwell and Watt were charged with breaching a rule which forbids criticism indicating ‘bias or incompetence’ on match officials or impinges on their characters.
Elliot Watt in action against Celtic in the fateful Fir Park encounter that ended 3-2 to the visitors
The punishments were meted out yesterday at a disciplinary hearing convened by the SFA — but the Fir Park club are determined to fight their case.
Insisting that they are likely to seek legal advice on the matter, a short statement from Motherwell read: ‘The club are extremely disappointed at the outcome of today’s hearing in relation to the Scottish FA’s notice of complaint received by the club.
‘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.’
The Lanarkshire club were fined £5,000 after being cited in the wake of social media content, which included the phrase ‘as the world of football mocks our game’.
Motherwell were found guilty of the charge by the disciplinary panel while 26-year-old Watt, who is a transfer target for Turkish side Samsunspor, also admitted the charge against him.
Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have handled the ball late on against Celtic
The former Scotland Under-21 midfielder was already due to be suspended for Motherwell’s Premiership opener at Easter Road, after being sent off in his team’s win there against Hibernian on the final day of last season.
He will also be suspended for league games against Falkirk, Aberdeen and St Mirren, plus Motherwell’s Premier Sports Cup opener.
If he remains at Fir Park, Watt would not play a domestic game until September 2, although he could feature in the Conference League.
Derek McInnes was also due to face the same charge over his comments on the penalty incident, which he called ‘disgusting’, but his hearing was put back to July 22.
McInnes, who was in charge of Hearts at the time as they chased an historic title win, said: ‘I shouldn’t be commenting on another game but, having seen that, it feels like us against everybody.’
Celtic were facing the challenge of beating leaders Hearts 3-0 on the final day before Iheanacho converted the penalty, and they ultimately won the title in the closing moments of the season by overturning a one-point deficit with a 3-1 win.
SFA head of referees Willie Collum later backed the penalty award in his final VAR Review Show of the season.
