All three parties will now face disciplinary hearings on July 16 after a furious fall-out followed the award of the 96th minute spot kick to the eventual champions in the penultimate game of the season.
Embroiled in the tightest SPFL title race in years McInnes was still manager of Hearts prior to his move to Ibrox when the Tynecastle side looked set to extend their lead in the Premiership.
The award against Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson sparked weeks of debate and speaking on Sky Sports McInnes called the decision ‘disgusting’ telling Sky Sports: “When you heard Celtic got a 96th minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.
“Having seen it again, it’s disgusting. It is.
“I don’t think it’s a penalty kick.
“But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody.”
A post from Motherwell on X read: “As the world of football mocks our game, we simply have to draw a line in the sand and shift the focus.”
Another from midfielder Watt called the penalty ‘the worst VAR decision in history’ and has also been cited by the governing body after Fir Park referee John Beaton’s contact details were posted online and the category one official required police protection after giving the award in the aftermath of a VAR review.
A strongly worded statement from the SFA condemned the fall-out with Chief Executive Ian Maxwell branding it ‘disgusting.’
The SFA compliance officer has issued the complaints under the edict of disciplinary rule 72 stating that: ‘No recognised football body, club, offi cial, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, shall in an interview, a ‘blog’ on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the Decision(s) and/or performance(s) of any or all match offi cial(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match offi cial; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character.”
Addressing a toxic end to the season Maxwell hinted at action when he said: “It is just not right, it fundamentally not right.
“If anyone has played any sort of part….everyone has to look at every bit that makes that happen, every bit of media commentary, whether it is a statement from a club or a manager talking after a game or a player, there are a lot of bits that escalate to the point that someone says ‘I am going to stick a referee’s details online’.
“How anyone thinks that is acceptable is an absolute disgrace. I know we put out a very robust statement and it is up to us as an association to stand by that, because you cannot be spending your time doing that.”
“All we do is lambast referees from one day to the next. It never stops.”