It was a decision that means the Scottish Premiership title race will go down to a nail-biting final day. But the last-minute penalty awarded to Celtic on Wednesday night has sparked a row across the football world, with some baffled critics branding it ‘the worst VAR decision’ they have ever seen.
Controversial Penalty Decides Crucial Match
League leaders Hearts, bidding to win their first league title since 1960, were on course to take a three-point advantage to Celtic Park for the final game of the season after defeating Falkirk 3-0. But Celtic kept the title in their hands as Kelechi Iheanacho’s penalty nine minutes into added time secured a 3-2 win at Motherwell.
The penalty was awarded in highly dubious circumstances as Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was ruled to have handled the ball. After a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check appeared to show Nicholson had simply headed the ball away, the penalty was awarded by referee John Beaton. The incident sparked furious debate as Celtic were awarded an injury-time penalty.
Pundits Condemn VAR Decision
The decision sparked outrage as pundits and fans insisted that Nicholson had clearly headed the ball. Former Scotland international Don Hutchinson called Celtic’s penalty ‘one of the worst decisions of all time’, writing on X: ‘You don’t get that much power with your hand. It hits his forehead. Again the ref did NOT give it on field. So according to law, it’s not “clear and obvious”.’
Former England striker Gary Lineker wrote on X that it ‘might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen... extraordinary given the significance’. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd was also stunned by the decision. He told Sky Sports: ‘It clearly hits his head. If it hits your hand, it just drops down at your feet.’
Political and Managerial Reactions
Former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray MP, a Hearts supporter, also waded into the controversy, saying: ‘I don’t think that it was a penalty. People should throw a ball at each other today and see if they can get a ball to go back out for a throw-in just by hitting it with a hand.’ He added: ‘It’s gut-wrenching. It’s devastating, and everyone seems to be against us. We’ve just got to keep believing we can get it, and if we do it on Saturday, all of this have become pretty irrelevant. We’re Jambos after all. You know, if we didn’t have the faith, we wouldn’t be there, we wouldn’t be wearing the maroon. So, I’ve sent my daughter off to school this morning in her Hearts kit as an act of defiance.’
The decision was made after VAR Andrew Dallas called referee John Beaton to the pitchside monitor following Nicholson’s challenge. Hearts can still win the title if they avoid defeat at Celtic on Saturday, while the hosts need to win to claim a 14th title in 15 years. However, Celtic go into the match on the back of six straight wins.
The last time two opponents went head-to-head for the title on the final day of the season was 1991, when Rangers beat Aberdeen at Ibrox. Following Wednesday night’s game, Hearts manager Derek McInnes raged: ‘It’s disgusting. We’re up against it, we’re up against everybody. I don’t think it’s a penalty. It’s so poor and it looks as though [Celtic] have been given it. They have been very fortunate.’
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou said: ‘I think the big question is, what are we even doing here, when things like that happen? I’m in total shock.’ Celtic manager Martin O’Neill defended the decision, saying: ‘I have seen it back very, very briefly... it’s a handball.’
