SFA Launches Investigation Into Steven McLean as Referee and VAR Crisis Grips Scottish Football
Scottish football is in the grip of a full-blown officiating crisis, and referee Steven McLean sits at the center of it. The Scottish Football Association has come under enormous pressure following a string of high-profile errors that many believe directly influenced the outcome of the 2025/26 Premiership title race, and questions are now being asked about how long the governing body can continue to look the other way.
The controversy reached boiling point in the final weeks of the season. Hearts finished two points behind Celtic, with two controversial calls ultimately having had a huge bearing on the title race. Both incidents were subsequently examined by the SFA’s Key Match Incident panel, and both were found to be wrong.
The first flashpoint came when Hearts faced Motherwell in a crucial mid-season clash. The KMI panel ruled that on-field referee McLean’s decision was incorrect and that he “should have awarded a penalty,” with the majority of the panel deeming the final outcome incorrect as they felt McLean should have awarded a spot-kick after being sent to the monitor. He didn’t. Hearts were denied. The game moved on, but the damage was done.
Then came the incident that sent shockwaves across the game. In the 99th minute of Celtic’s trip to Fir Park on May 13, VAR intervened and referee John Beaton pointed to the spot. Kelechi Iheanacho scored to complete a 3-2 win for Celtic, a result that meant Celtic only had to defeat Hearts by any score on the final day to secure the title, while they would have required a three-goal victory to prevail had the match at Motherwell ended in a draw.
The backlash was immediate and brutal. Former England striker Gary Lineker described it as “might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen,” while Hearts boss Derek McInnes called it “disgusting.” The SFA’s own panel eventually agreed. In the KMI verdict, the panel stated that the majority deemed the on-field decision of play-on to be correct, and that two panel members felt VAR was incorrect to intervene and the penalty was incorrectly awarded.
For Hearts fans and neutrals alike, the question isn’t just about individual errors. It’s about a pattern. After finding that Hearts were wrongly denied a penalty at Motherwell when winger Alexandros Kyziridis was fouled inside the area, the second KMI ruling further angered the Edinburgh club. Hearts had been top of the table since September. They went to Celtic Park on the final day needing only a draw to be champions. They lost 3-1.
Rumours have been circulating inside Scottish football for weeks that the SFA is facing internal pressure to act. Sources close to the situation suggest McLean’s position is being reviewed, though the governing body has said nothing publicly. Whether that amounts to anything concrete remains to be seen.
McLean’s issues are described as well known inside the SFA and across Scottish football, yet he was confirmed as referee for the Scottish Cup final just days after all this controversy played out. For many, that decision spoke volumes.
Scottish football deserves better. The clubs competing for titles, relegation battles, and European spots deserve officials they can trust. Right now, that trust is gone, and the SFA has serious questions to answer.
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