Celtic score today has become part of a wider disciplinary story after Elliot Watt was handed a four-match ban for his social media post following Motherwell’s controversial loss to Celtic in May. The punishment suggests the Scottish FA Judicial Panel is taking a strict view of public criticism of match officials.
Watt’s comments came after the same handball incident that has since placed Derek McInnes under scrutiny as well. The Motherwell player claimed it was “the worst VAR decision in history” after the match, and that wording has now helped frame a case that could matter well beyond one result.
Why Watt’s ban matters
The key issue is not only the length of the suspension, but the precedent it may set. If a player can be banned for four matches over a public post criticising a decision, it is clear the Scottish FA intends to deter similar reactions when controversial calls go against a team.
That matters because the fallout from the incident has not stopped with Watt. Derek McInnes later made post-match comments to Sky Sports at Tynecastle, and he will find out his fate on Wednesday. The timing means this disciplinary story is still developing, with notices of complaint relating to the Scottish Cup quarter final between Rangers and Celtic expected imminently.
The McInnes angle keeps the debate alive
McInnes’s remarks were direct. He said: “When you heard Celtic got a 96th minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.”
He added: “Having seen it again, it's disgusting. It is. I don't think it's a penalty kick. But we're up against it. We're up against everybody.”
Those comments show why this case has become so sensitive. The same handball incident has now linked Watt’s online post and McInnes’s in-match reaction, and both are being viewed through the same disciplinary lens.
A strict line from the Scottish FA
What stands out is the consistency of the response. The Scottish FA Judicial Panel appears to be making it clear that public criticism of officials, especially on VAR decisions, can carry serious consequences.
That may not end the debate about the original decision, or the frustration felt by Motherwell after the May match. But it does mean the focus has shifted to discipline, standards and where football draws the line between opinion and sanction.
For now, Watt’s four-match ban is the clearest outcome. The next step is whether McInnes faces similar action, and whether the pending complaints around the Scottish Cup quarter final deepen a controversy that has already travelled well beyond Celtic score today headlines.
