A man has been arrested for leaking online the personal details of referee John Beaton, who awarded Celtic a controversial penalty that could decide the fate of Scotland’s title race.
Police Scotland said on Friday that a 19-year-old man has been charged with a data protection breach after Beaton and his family were placed under police surveillance.
Celtic and Hearts face off in a title decider on Saturday at the end of the most dramatic Scottish season in decades.
Hearts are aiming to end the 41-year wait for a side better than Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers to win the league.
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The Jambos will take a one-point lead into the final day but would have had a more comfortable cushion if Celtic’s late winner from the penalty spot had beaten Motherwell 3-2 on Wednesday.
The decision was harshly criticised, with Hearts manager Derek McInnes calling it ‘disgusting’.
In response, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) has hit back at the tone of language used by players, coaches and pundits in recent days.
“Such high-handedness, motivated by decisions deemed right or wrong on a field of play, is a blight on our national game and we are grateful to Police Scotland for their swift intervention,” the SFA said in a statement.
“We are also sadly clear that this is the inevitable consequence of the increasing criticism, intolerance and scapegoating shown this season by media pundits, supporters, official supporters groups, clubs, players, managers and former match officials.”
Published on May 16, 2026
