After awarding a contentious last‑minute spot‑kick that sent Celtic past Motherwell 3-2, John Beaton and his family were placed under police guard on Thursday. A leak of his personal details online prompted the Scottish FA to involve Police Scotland, citing threats to officials' safety. The decision left Celtic a point behind league leaders Hearts heading into the title showdown.

The penalty stemmed from a VAR review that deemed Motherwell's Sam Nicholson guilty of a handball during a long throw. Kelechi Iheanacho calmly slotted the spot‑kick in the 100th minute, sealing the comeback win at Fir Park. Celtic's resurgence fuels a fierce battle for the Scottish Premiership crown, with the final match set for Saturday at Celtic Park and broadcast live on Sky Sports.

In a stern statement, the Scottish FA condemned the intimidation of match officials as “a scourge on our national game,” urging fans and media to temper criticism. The association warned that continued harassment could deter referees from serving at any level, threatening the integrity of Scottish football as the season reaches its climax.