Motherwell midfielder Elliot Watt has been handed an immediate four-match suspension after admitting charges related to post-match comments made on social media. The incident followed Motherwell's 3-2 defeat by eventual Scottish Premiership winners Celtic on 13 May, where Watt, 26, described a late penalty decision as 'the worst VAR decision in history' on the platform X.
The penalty, converted by Kelechi Iheanacho, was awarded after Sam Nicholson was deemed to have handled the ball. Watt's comments breached Scottish FA's disciplinary rule 72, which prohibits players from criticising officials' decisions or making remarks that could 'impinge' on a referee's character. In addition to Watt's ban, Motherwell Football Club was fined £5,000 for a post on their own social media account after the game, which stated, 'As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus.'
The Scottish FA's head of refereeing, Willie Collum, later affirmed in his regular review of key incidents that the spot-kick award was the correct decision. Watt, who scored Motherwell's opening goal in the contentious match, will now face a total of five domestic game bans, as he was also sent off in Motherwell's final Premiership game of last season against Hibernian after receiving two bookings. This means the midfielder, who was voted into last season's Premiership PFA team of the year, will miss the initial stages of the domestic season.
Despite the domestic suspension, Watt will be available for Motherwell's upcoming UEFA Conference League fixtures. Alfred Johansson's side is scheduled to face Faroese team Havnar Boltfelag in the second qualifying round on 23 July and 30 July. This provides a temporary reprieve for the club regarding his availability for European competition, as they navigate the start of their campaign without one of their key players domestically.
The disciplinary action against Watt and Motherwell underscores the Scottish FA's firm stance on maintaining respect for match officials and their decisions. The incident also saw then-Hearts head coach Derek McInnes cited for calling the decision 'disgusting,' with his hearing scheduled for 22 July. This ongoing enforcement highlights a broader effort within Scottish football to control public commentary from players and clubs regarding refereeing matters, aiming to preserve the integrity of the game and its officials.