Motherwell’s Elliott Watt banned for comments made after Celtic game

Motherwell midfielder Elliott Watt has been handed an immediate four-match ban after admitting charges relating to post-match comments in May’s defeat to Celtic.

At X, Watt, 26, described the late penalty as “the worst VAR decision in history”.

Kelechi Iheanacho converted when Sam Nicholson was decided to take over and the eventual Scottish Premiership winners secured a 3–2 victory at Fir Park on 13 May.

Watt, who opened the scoring against Celtic, was charged with breaching the Scottish FA’s Disciplinary Rule 72, which states that players must not “criticise” decisions made by officials or make comments that “impugn” the referee’s character.

Motherwell were charged with the same breach and fined £5,000 for a post they made after the game, which read: “As the football world mocks our game, we just need to draw a line in the sand and change focus.”

SFA head of referee Willie Collum, in his regular critical incident review, said the award of the spot-kick was the correct decision.

Then-Hearts head coach Derek McInnes – whose side won the title on final day – was there The decision was also referred to as “disgusting”.. His hearing was held on July 22.

In Motherwell’s final game of last season, a 1-0 Premiership win at Hibernian, Watt was sent off after picking up two bookings and is therefore set to be banned for five domestic games.

However, Watt will be available for Motherwell’s upcoming Conference League fixtures, with Alfred Johansson’s side facing Faroese side Havnar Boltfelag in the second qualifying round on July 23 and 30.