NafisaThe controversy surrounding Celtic’s dramatic late winner against Motherwell has continued to dominate Scottish football discussions after the dramatic scenes at Fir Park completely transformed the Premiership title race heading into the final day of the season.
Martin O’Neill’s side looked set to suffer a damaging setback after Motherwell fought back late on to make it 2-2 deep into the second half, a scoreline which would have handed Hearts a massive advantage in the race for the title.
At that stage, the Edinburgh side were on course to head to Celtic Park knowing even a narrow defeat could still potentially leave them champions on goal difference after their comfortable 3-0 victory over Falkirk.
But everything changed in stoppage time.
With the game entering its final seconds, Anthony Ralston launched a long throw into the Motherwell box where Auston Trusty challenged Sam Nicholson for the dropping ball. Referee John Beaton initially allowed play to continue before VAR official Andrew Dallas intervened to flag a possible handball offence against the Motherwell midfielder.
Beaton was instructed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor and, after a brief examination of the footage, pointed directly to the penalty spot.
Kelechi Iheanacho then stepped up and calmly buried the decisive kick past Calum Ward to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory for Celtic and keep the title race fully alive ahead of tomorrow’s showdown at Parkhead.
The incident immediately sparked chaos across Scottish football.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes blasted the decision as “disgusting”, pundits clashed live on television, and social media erupted with supporters debating whether Nicholson had actually handled the ball or whether VAR had overstepped once again in a decisive title-race moment.
Despite the furious backlash, however, JOHN BEATON has now reportedly been backed by the SFA for making the CORRECT decision in awarding Celtic the stoppage-time penalty in the champions’ dramatic midweek win over Motherwell at Fir Park.
The referee has faced intense criticism following his spot-kick call after the quick VAR review of the Nicholson handball incident.
Andrew Dallas, operating as the technical assistant, instructed Beaton to review the moment Nicholson challenged Trusty for the aerial ball after Ralston had launched the throw-in from the right flank.
The match official then checked the footage on the touchline monitor before returning to the pitch and awarding the penalty.
Iheanacho converted the opportunity beyond goalkeeper Calum Ward to ensure all three points travelled back to Parkhead.
Referees’ chief Willie Collum has reportedly reassured the experienced official that he correctly applied SFA guidelines regarding handball offences and was justified in awarding the penalty-kick, according to a report in the Scottish Sun.
With Nicholson’s arms raised around head height and viewed as being in an unnatural position, officials considered that enough justification for the spot-kick to stand.
Nevertheless, the decision has caused uproar elsewhere, with Hearts manager Derek McInnes publicly branding the call “disgusting” — comments which could potentially attract scrutiny from the SFA themselves.
The Edinburgh club now travel to Parkhead tomorrow afternoon where Martin O’Neill’s side, sitting one point behind, know that victory would secure a fifth consecutive league title.
Don Robertson will officiate the massive title decider, while Kevin Clancy takes charge of VAR duties.
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