NafisaChris Sutton and Kris Boyd went head-to-head on the Warm-Up podcast over Celtic’s dramatic late penalty against Motherwell, with both pundits taking completely opposing positions on the incident that has reshaped the Premiership title race.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s injury-time penalty secured Celtic a massive 3-2 victory at Fir Park after referee John Beaton was instructed by VAR to review the incident deep into stoppage time.
The decision has completely dominated the reaction following Wednesday night’s chaos.
Sam Nicholson appeared to make contact with the ball using his hand while battling Auston Trusty inside the penalty area, with some observers also highlighting an elbow catching the Celtic defender during the aerial challenge.
Boyd fiercely opposed the award and repeatedly insisted Nicholson had nowhere else to place his arm once Trusty leaned into him.
Sutton, however, believed the process itself was fairly straightforward once VAR recommended an on-field review to Beaton.
Speaking on the Warm-Up podcast, Sutton said: “John Beaton was asked to go to the monitor. He was advised to go to the monitor.
“He did do and he made a subjective call.
“And honestly, I don’t think that there can be any argument really that the ball didn’t hit his hand.
“It did and his hand was in an unnatural position.”
Boyd instantly fired back.
He said: “Where is it meant to put it once Trusty has locked his shoulders there?
“I don’t think it hit his hand, but if it did, I still don’t think it’s a penalty.”
The argument soon intensified as Sutton accused Boyd of trying to debate two different arguments simultaneously.
Sutton responded: “You’re trying to argue multiple points here.
“I wouldn’t mind if you stuck to one thing.
“But you’re saying, well, it didn’t hit his hand.
“And you’re saying, well, even if it did, you know, I don’t get that.”
While Boyd challenged the late penalty decision, he did admit Celtic may have deserved a spot-kick earlier in the match when Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward collided heavily with Daizen Maeda while attempting to clear the ball.
Boyd said: “I thought the Maeda one was a penalty last night as well.
“Because I think the goalkeeper then comes, he gets a punch in the wrist, but he knees him first.”
That section of the debate has largely disappeared amid the outrage surrounding the winning goal.
From Celtic’s perspective, that inconsistency is exactly why some of the backlash has felt exaggerated. The Maeda incident received very little attention despite also being a major penalty-box decision.
Sutton also suggested much of the anger over the late award was directly linked to the title race itself.
He said: “A lot of people don’t want Celtic to win the league.
“People want a different story, north of the border. And I get that, but it’s a subjective call.”
Whether supporters agree with the decision or not, the reality remains that VAR reviewed the incident, Beaton personally examined the monitor and then awarded the penalty.
Now the entire title race comes down to Saturday at Celtic Park.
Nafisa
