The Scottish FA says referee John Beaton and his household “spent final evening at house underneath police surveillance following a leak of non-public particulars on-line”.
The affiliation says that it’s calling for “tolerance and perspective to forestall any additional, unthinkable escalation”.
And Police Scotland have confirmed a person, 19, has been arrested “in reference to a knowledge safety offence”.
Beaton has confronted criticism following the award of a late penalty, which was transformed, in Celtic’s 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday.
The incident at Fir Park, which concerned VAR, was the newest in a collection of controversial refereeing choices because the Scottish Premiership title race reaches its conclusion.
Celtic’s win saved them inside a degree of leaders Hearts. These two sides meet at Celtic Park in Saturday’s last top-six fixtures.
“The Scottish FA condemns within the strongest doable phrases makes an attempt to compromise the security of match officers,” mentioned the SFA, which organises refereeing within the SPFL.
“Such vigilantism, motivated by choices perceived to be proper or flawed on a discipline of play, is a scourge on our nationwide recreation and we’re grateful to Police Scotland for his or her swift intervention.
“As we method what needs to be an thrilling finale to the season, we ask those that have personalised and hyperbolised their opinions, those that have sought the straightforward method out by attributing defeats to perceived refereeing errors, and people who have authorized incendiary statements and posts to replicate on their contribution to creating an atmosphere of intimidation, concern and alarm.”
Police Scotland mentioned of their assertion: “Officers investigating a criticism of non-public data being shared on-line regarding a Scottish soccer official, have arrested a 19-year-old man in reference to a knowledge safety offence. Enquiries are persevering with.”
