NafisaRangers legend Kris Boyd was left raging over the controversial stoppage-time penalty awarded to Celtic in their dramatic 3-2 victory over Motherwell, a result that has now set up a blockbuster final day in the Scottish Premiership title race.
The Hoops were given a penalty in the 97th minute after Sam Nicholson was judged to have handled the ball inside his own penalty area. Referee John Beaton awarded the spot-kick following a review at the pitchside VAR monitor.
The decision has now created a huge title showdown against Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday. Had Celtic drawn, they would have needed to beat Hearts by four goals to lift the title.
Instead, the win at Fir Park means the reigning champions only need to defeat the league leaders by any margin to successfully defend their crown and stop Hearts from winning their first Scottish title since 1960.
Hearts defeated Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle earlier in the evening and at one stage looked destined to secure the championship with a match still remaining while Motherwell were leading 1-0.
However, the Steelmen failed to hold onto even a draw and Hearts manager Derek McInnes was furious with the late decision at Fir Park, saying: “It’s disgusting. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. But we’re up against it, we’re up against everybody and we’ll be ready for Saturday.
“If I’m Motherwell I’m really disappointed with that, having seen it again. I think it’s so poor that they’ve been given that penalty. They’ve [Celtic have] been very fortunate on that side of it and we have to realise we’re up against everything.
Meanwhile, Rangers hero Boyd reacted strongly as well: “For that to fly off his head at that pace, quite clearly… if it hits your hand it will drop in front of you – it’s not going fly off like that. It’s three massive calls in the last three games. The penalty kick [Hearts didn’t get] at Motherwell on Saturday, the red card against Alistair Johnston Saturday [against Rangers] and that tonight. It is incredible. There will be serious questions asked about it and rightly so.
“His hand’s high but if that hits his hand, that is dropping two or three yards in front of him. To go at the pace it has, there’s no way it does. In the 97th minute of five minutes added on… Another dubious call has gone in Celtic’s favour. If you throw a ball at someone and it hits your hand, it drops a few yards in front of you.
“It’s impossible to get that distance off your hand. Nothing will be done about it.There is no way he can look at that and be 100 per cent certain it has hit the hand. We are looking and have seen so many angles [not certain]. I will say it again, it is three massive calls in the last three games.”
Hearts’ all-time leading scorer John Robertson also questioned the incident, adding: “I don’t know if it has hit his hand, I think it is the head. His hand is up and if it has hit his hand, it is a penalty. I don’t think it is a handball, it is his head! It is not clear and obvious. It looks like an error.
“I said at the start, I thought both teams would win. It looked like Hearts had done the business and it was finished at Celtic. It was the last kick of the game and feels like a defeat; it’s gut-wrenching. Celtic would’ve had to win 4-0 to win the title.”
However, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, 74, defended the call and said: “The penalty looked as if it’s pretty clear cut. Has he given it for the handball? There was also an elbow on top of that there too.”
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