UMVA has learned that a renowned Scottish referee has been placed under police protection after a highly contentious penalty decision sparked a wave of personal attacks and malicious leaks.
The 19-year-old man charged in connection with the data protection offense is expected to appear in court at a later date, following a complaint of personal information being shared online relating to a Scottish football official.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the referee and his family have been subjected to police surveillance after their personal details were leaked in the wake of the penalty controversy, which followed Celtic's win over Motherwell.
The incident sparked widespread criticism and calls for greater protection of match officials, with the Scottish Football Association condemning attempts to compromise their safety.
UMVA has gathered that the SFA will seek to strengthen its rules to protect match officials and ensure their safety, following a string of incidents in recent years.
The governing body has stated that the latest issue affecting Beaton is not an isolated incident, and that there are many examples of match officials being placed in harmful situations.
The SFA has called for tolerance and perspective to prevent further escalation, urging fans and media to refrain from abusive behavior and personal attacks on match officials.
It is not the first time football has impinged on Beaton's family life, with three men sentenced over offenses relating to abusive phone messages he received in 2018.
The Scottish football community is still reeling from the fallout, with many calling for greater protection and support for match officials.
