John Beaton Given Police Protection After Personal Details Leak Following Celtic Penalty Vs Motherwell

Celtic were awarded a stoppage-time penalty at Motherwell on Wednesday after a VAR check, and Kelechi Iheanacho converted it in the 100th minute to give Celtic a 3-2 win at Fir Park.

“- Published Who would be a referee in Scotland”

BBC

The decision changed the Scottish Premiership title race, with Hearts leading Celtic by a point going into Saturday’s title-decider at Celtic Park, and Sky Sports said the match would be live on Sky Sports.

BBC

The controversy centered on referee John Beaton judging Motherwell midfielder Sam Nicholson had committed a handball when a long throw was launched into the box, after VAR sent Beaton to the pitchside monitor.

In the aftermath, the Scottish FA condemned attempts to compromise the safety of match officials, and BBC Sport reported that match referee John Beaton and his family were put under police surveillance following a leak of their personal details online.

Police Scotland confirmed a 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with a data protection offence after officers investigated a complaint of personal information being shared online with referee John Beaton and his family.

Sky Sports quoted the Scottish FA condemning “attempts to compromise the safety of match officials,” while the BBC reported the SFA said the situation was “the inevitable consequence of the heightening criticism, intolerance and scapegoating demonstrated this season”.

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BBC Sport football expert and former Celtic forward Chris Sutton said there is “always been this narrative surrounding Scottish football and referees,” adding that conspiracy theories circulate about which side referees are on.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes called the penalty “disgusting” and suggested they were not getting their fair share of decisions, as the BBC described social media filled with doctored images after the VAR call.

With Celtic set to meet Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday, the BBC described the “impossible job” of refereeing Scotland’s title decider as officials faced extreme pressure after the Wednesday VAR incident.

“John Beaton: Referee and family given police protection following Celtic penalty award to set up Scottish Premiership title decider Celtic were awarded a stoppage-time penalty at Motherwell which changed title-race picture; Hearts lead Celtic by a point with title set to be decided when they meet on Saturday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 12”

Sky Sports

The Foundation of Hearts, the league leaders’ majority shareholder, said it was “extremely concerned by a number of refereeing and VAR decisions” in recent weeks, and it called on “those responsible for the officiating of Saturday's match to ensure that the highest standards of decision-making are applied”.

The Guardian’s Ewan Murray framed the penalty debacle as evidence that Scottish football should “get rid of video assistant referees,” citing the VAR involvement in the handball decision and the follow-up that led to Celtic’s late, late penalty.

In the same period, Sky Sports reported that Police Scotland enquiries were continuing after Beaton’s family spent Thursday night at home under police protection, while the SFA said it would seek to strengthen its rules to better protect match officials.