Hearts fans revisit Celtic title controversy by chanting and mocking banknotes in protest.

Hearts supporters made their feelings towards referee John Beaton unmistakably clear when the official returned to oversee one of their matches months after a controversial incident that played a major part in the dramatic Scottish Premiership title race.

The travelling Hearts support used the occasion to revisit an incident that remains fresh in the minds of many supporters, despite several months having passed since Celtic ultimately secured the championship.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – MAY 16: Harry Milne of Heart of Midlothian speaks to a steward during the William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park on May 16, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side completed an extraordinary turnaround by defeating Hearts at Celtic Park on the final day of the season in May. However, the events that unfolded just three days earlier at Fir Park continued to dominate discussions surrounding the title race.

Beaton returns to Hearts duty

Beaton was appointed to referee Hearts for the first time since the dramatic conclusion to last season’s title battle when the Jambos travelled to face Falkirk.

The return immediately attracted attention because of the history between the official and the Edinburgh club following the controversial decision at Motherwell.

The travelling Hearts supporters clearly had not forgotten what happened.

Throughout the match, sections of the away support sarcastically chanted Beaton’s name, making their feelings known without any uncertainty.

Some fans went even further by bringing specially produced mock bank notes into the stadium. The notes featured an image of Beaton and were used as another way of referencing the controversial penalty decision from the previous season.

The scenes demonstrated that the incident remains a significant source of frustration among sections of the Hearts support.

Controversial penalty changed title race

The original incident occurred during Celtic’s visit to Fir Park shortly before the final day of the Premiership season.

Beaton awarded Celtic a late penalty, a decision that ultimately helped keep their title challenge alive.

Had the penalty not been awarded, Hearts would have entered the final match of the campaign in a considerably stronger position and with the advantage in the title race.

Instead, the decision contributed to Celtic maintaining their challenge before the two clubs met at Celtic Park three days later.

Celtic eventually defeated Hearts on the final day, completing their late surge to the Premiership title.

For Hearts supporters, however, the penalty at Fir Park became one of the defining moments of the title race.

McInnes strongly criticised decision

The decision generated significant criticism at the time, including from then-Hearts manager Derek McInnes.

McInnes described the decision as “disgusting”, expressing his frustration with the circumstances surrounding the penalty.

His comments subsequently resulted in a touchline ban, adding another layer to the controversy that had already developed around Beaton’s decision.

Former Hearts player Ryan Stevenson was also highly critical.

Stevenson described the decision as a “disgrace” and “garbage”, reflecting the strength of feeling among those connected with Hearts.

The incident even attracted attention beyond Scottish football, with former England striker and broadcaster Gary Lineker also expressing criticism of the decision.

As the debate continued, the penalty became one of the most discussed moments of the title race.

SFA later supported Beaton

Despite the criticism, the Scottish FA subsequently offered support for Beaton’s decision.

Willie Collum, the SFA’s head of refereeing, reviewed the incident as part of the governing body’s VAR process and concluded that the referee had correctly applied the laws of the game.

That assessment provided an important counterpoint to the widespread criticism that had followed the original decision.

According to Collum’s explanation, Beaton’s decision was consistent with the relevant laws and therefore should not have been overturned.

The governing body’s backing meant the debate continued to divide opinion, with supporters and pundits reaching different conclusions over the penalty.

Sutton challenges reaction

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton also entered the debate, but his criticism was directed at the reaction to the decision rather than the referee himself.

Sutton questioned the response from several prominent pundits and suggested that sympathy for Hearts may have influenced how some people assessed the incident.

His comments added another perspective to an already heated argument.

While Hearts supporters remained convinced that the decision had significantly affected their title hopes, others pointed to the SFA’s review as evidence that Beaton had made the correct call.

The disagreement ensured that the incident remained a major talking point well beyond the final whistle at Fir Park.

Controversy escalated off the pitch

The situation eventually became more serious away from the football stadium.

Amid the intense criticism surrounding Beaton and the penalty decision, the referee’s home address was leaked publicly.

The development raised concerns about his personal safety and resulted in security being required at his property.

The escalation demonstrated how far the controversy had moved beyond ordinary football debate.

What began as an argument over a refereeing decision eventually resulted in serious personal consequences for the official.

Hearts fans have not forgotten

The scenes at Falkirk showed that the controversy has not disappeared from the minds of Hearts supporters.

The sarcastic chants directed towards Beaton and the appearance of mock bank notes featuring his face provided a visible reminder of the anger that followed the Fir Park penalty.

For the Hearts support, the incident remains closely linked with the way last season’s title race unfolded.

Celtic ultimately lifted the Premiership trophy after defeating Hearts on the final day, but the penalty awarded by Beaton days earlier continues to be remembered as a pivotal moment by many supporters.

The SFA’s subsequent review and Collum’s defence of the decision have not prevented the debate from continuing.

A controversy that continues to divide opinion

Beaton’s return to referee Hearts therefore carried more significance than an ordinary appointment.

The response from the travelling supporters demonstrated that the emotions surrounding the previous season’s title battle remain strong.

While the governing body concluded that the referee had correctly applied the laws, Hearts supporters clearly retain their own view of what happened at Fir Park.

The chants and mock bank notes were therefore a reminder of a controversy that continues to divide opinion.

With Celtic having ultimately secured the title and Hearts left to reflect on a dramatic campaign, Beaton’s return brought one of the season’s most contentious moments back into the spotlight once again.