The Scottish FA has cited Derek McInnes after he called Celtic's late penalty at Motherwell “disgusting”, with a possible touchline ban now on the table. The complaint also extends to Motherwell and Elliott Watt, and all three parties will face disciplinary hearings on 16 July. The incident came deep into stoppage time at Fir Park, when Kelechi Iheanacho converted a 96th minute handball penalty for Celtic.
The incident at Fir Park
McInnes was reacting to a decision that had already become the focus of the night. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “Having seen it again, it's disgusting. It is. I don't think it's a penalty kick.” Watt was even more forceful, describing it as “the worst VAR decision in history”. Those are the views being examined now, not a ruling on whether the award was right or wrong.
The wider fallout has gone beyond the original call. Referee John Beaton's contact details were posted online after the match, and police were keeping his home under surveillance. The Scottish FA move turns a late penalty complaint into a disciplinary case with a fixed date, and it now lands with Motherwell as well as McInnes and Watt.
Celtic's win left them one point behind Hearts before they beat Hearts to the title on the final day, which is the backdrop here. Celtic are listed first in the championship round table on 82 points, while Motherwell finished fourth on 61. The hearing on 16 July is now the next concrete step.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →