Motherwell Football Club's attempt to appeal a £5,000 fine imposed for their reaction to a controversial last-minute penalty awarded to Celtic in May has failed. The club had taken issue with a decision made by referee John Beaton, who used video assistant referee (VAR) technology to award the penalty for a handball against Motherwell's Sam Nicholson. In response, the club posted a social media message that included the phrase "as the world of football mocks our game" and a video of the incident from their 3-2 defeat. The post was deemed to breach rules against criticizing match officials, suggesting bias or incompetence. The Scottish Football Association’s appeal panel upheld the original decision, maintaining the £5,000 fine and the sanctions against the club. However, the panel did reduce the suspension of former Motherwell player Elliot Watt, who had been initially banned for four matches after posting on his X account that the VAR decision was "the worst in history." His ban has now been cut to two games, with an additional two suspended until the end of next season. Watt, who now plays for Samsunspor in Turkey, was charged alongside the club for breaching the rules on criticizing officials. The incident sparked a broader discussion about the use of VAR in Scottish football, with several high-profile figures commenting on the decision. Earlier this month, Rangers manager Derek McInnes, who was the Hearts manager at the time of the incident, saw his punishment reduced. He had initially been banned from the touchline for three games for calling the VAR decision "disgusting" in a TV interview and claiming "we are up against everybody." His ban was reduced to two matches following an appeal. The cases of Motherwell, Watt, and McInnes highlight the ongoing debate around VAR decisions and the rules surrounding criticism of match officials. While the Scottish FA continues to enforce strict guidelines against such criticism, the reduction of some suspensions suggests a willingness to consider context and intent in disciplinary actions.