Celtic may have walked away with all three points against Motherwell—but one moment from the match is still dominating the conversation.
And it all revolves around Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Flashpoint that changed the mood
Deployed in midfield to cover for the injured Callum McGregor, Oxlade-Chamberlain put in a committed performance—but it was one challenge that stole the spotlight.
A heavy tackle on Motherwell’s Elijah Just immediately sparked fears of a red card, with players, fans, and pundits all bracing for a potential dismissal.
Instead, the referee reached for a yellow.
And that decision has since split opinion right down the middle.
Pundits clash over red card call
Former Celtic captain Peter Grant didn’t hide his concern, suggesting the midfielder was fortunate to escape further punishment.
“I was very concerned. You can see he has gone to try to play the ball. To be fair to Just, he put his foot in, and Alex has got him down the back.
“But from what I have seen this season. It could easily have been a red card. I don’t think anybody would have argued against it. If he had given a red card, and went over to his monitor. I don’t think he would have changed his mind. That’s for sure. He was very fortunate.
“From what I have seen this season. I thought he was very, very fortunate.”
On the other side of the debate, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton offered a completely different perspective—one shaped by his own playing days.
“I used to do that every week. Every tackle isn’t a red or a yellow card. I watched that, and I think he gets to it first. There is a contact, and it is what it is.”
Two experienced voices. Two completely different conclusions.
The moment that could have changed everything
While the initial challenge has taken most of the attention, there’s another layer to the debate.
Some observers have pointed out that Oxlade-Chamberlain may have been even luckier to avoid a second booking later in the game—an incident that, on another day, could have left Celtic down to ten men.
That context adds weight to the argument that, while the first decision may be defensible, the overall outcome was favourable for Celtic.
Fine margins in a title race
In a tight title race, moments like these carry extra significance.
A red card could have completely changed the flow of the match—and potentially the result. Instead, Celtic kept eleven men on the pitch and secured a crucial victory.
And that’s what makes this debate linger.
Because while the points are already on the board, the question remains:
Did Celtic get away with one?