Referee’s Safety Threatened After Iheanacho’s Dramatic Late Penalty for Celtic
A late VAR-awarded penalty saw Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho seal Celtic’s 3-2 win over Motherwell. The decision, given by referee John Beaton following a handball review, keeps Celtic pulsating in the title race. After the match, Beaton’s personal details leaked online. The Scottish FA confirmed he and his family were placed under police protection, and authorities have charged a suspect over the data breach. The Scottish FA condemned the abuse and called out hostile media narratives and social media vitriol for endangering match officials. As Celtic gears up for a title-deciding clash with Hearts, official safety remains in the spotlight.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/scottish-ref-under-police-protection-celtic-penalty-sparks-online-threats-2026-05-15/Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.

