Motherwell's head of coaching, Richard Foster, has been banned for six matches following his comments about a goal incident during Rangers' win over St Johnstone last month.

Working as a pundit for BBC Scotland, the 39-year-old discussed a goal scored by Cyriel Dessers as Philippe Clement's side progressed to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.

Craig Levein and his Saints players believed that referee Matthew MacDermid had awarded a free kick to the Perth side before Dessers went on to put the ball in the net. 

The goal stood, as the Nigerian helped the Ibrox club to a 2-0 victory at Hampden Park.

Analysing the goal, BBC read out an explanation from the Scottish FA over the controversial matter live on air. 

Now, Foster has received a hefty touchline ban following his comments in response to this. 

At the time, he said: “Lies! It’s a lie. Unless he puts the whistle to his mouth for no reason.”

Foster has since apologised for his comments, insisting he'd been caught up in the heat of the moment. The Steelmen coach admitted that he regretted his strong word choice and was speaking "more as a fan rather than a pundit."

A disciplinary charge was brought against the former Gers, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle defender as he's a Motherwell employee.

At the hearing on Thursday, the SFA's independent panel decided to hand him a six-game ban as his behaviour didn't act in the 'best interests of association football'.

Four of the matches are to be served immediately - meaning Foster will be absent from the dugout for games against Aberdeen, Dundee United, St Mirren and Hibernian - while the remaining two games are suspended and will only apply if he breaches the same rules again during the 2024/25 season.

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Willie Collum, the SFA's new head of refereeing, cleared up the confusion over the goal during the VAR Review show on YouTube earlier this week.

It was here confirmed that the referee did not blow his whistle before the goal was scored.

Collum explained: “Here, the referee probably doesn’t display good body language. His body language when the challenge is made is edging towards a free-kick.

“But he correctly delays the whistle, he correctly communicates so the VAR is aware of what he intends doing if a goal is scored and, when the ball hits the net, he then blows his whistle for what he deems to be a defensive free-kick.

“VAR checks and realises the Rangers player hasn’t committed a foul and they therefore recommend an on-field review.

“Apart from the body language, the correct process was followed and ultimately the correct decision was reached.”