The tension around Celtic right now does not begin or end at Parkhead. It stretches far beyond their own results, creeping into every rival fixture, every refereeing call, every late twist that shapes a title race hanging by a thread.
Because this is no longer just about what Celtic do. It is about what happens everywhere else.
After grinding out a nervy 1-0 win over St Mirren, there was a brief moment where it felt like momentum might finally swing their way. The job was done. The pressure had been answered, at least for one more week. But as the dust settled, attention quickly shifted elsewhere, to a moment that could quietly define the entire season.
And that is where the real frustration began to build.
Hearts were locked in a tense battle with Motherwell. The game sat on a knife edge at 1-1, the kind of moment where titles are shaped by the smallest of margins. Then came the incident.
Stephen Welsh, on loan from Celtic, moved to clear the ball inside his own box. In the process, there was contact with Landry Kabore, who was on the ground attempting to play the ball with his head. The referee initially waved play on. Nothing given. Game continues.
But it did not stay that way.
After intervention from VAR, the decision was overturned. Penalty to Hearts.
Lawrence Shankland stepped up and converted in the 88th minute. Moments later, Kabore added another. From a potential slip, Hearts suddenly had control. Three points secured. Title hopes strengthened.
And just like that, Celtic’s hard-fought win over St Mirren started to feel smaller.
The reaction was immediate, and it was fierce.
Former referees Des Roache and Steve Conroy did not hold back in their assessment. Looking at the incident through the lens of the laws of the game, they were clear in their stance.
“Based on this, laws of the game say no penalty.”
They went further, pointing directly to the rulebook and the concept of dangerous play.
“Not a penalty. Hearts player has endangered himself with trying to head the ball in the box, the defender is trying to clear the ball which he is entitled to do. Absolutely unfair for him to be punished for that.”
That word unfair has echoed loudly among Celtic supporters since.
Because in a title race this tight, moments like this are not just debated. They are remembered.
On the other side of the argument, Steven Naismith offered a different view, suggesting the decision could be justified based on who reached the ball first.
“First viewing of it, I thought it’s not a penalty.
But, when you see the replay, it’s like a striker getting to the ball first. Whether it’s with his foot, his head or whatever, if he gets there first and the defender makes contact then it’s a penalty.
I think the bit that makes it a bit strange is Kabore’s position. He is lying flat on his back, but he does get his head on the ball. For me, it’s a penalty.”
Two interpretations. One moment. Completely different consequences.
And that is where the tension really lies.
Because Celtic did their part. They found a way to win when it mattered. They handled the pressure, even if it was not perfect. But elsewhere, a single decision shifted the balance again.
You can feel the unease building.
Supporters are not just watching their own team now. They are watching everything. Every whistle. Every VAR check. Every late goal. Waiting, wondering, questioning.
Is it just football being unpredictable, or something more frustrating creeping into the margins?
That question remains open.
What is certain is this. With so little separating the teams at the top, these moments will define the outcome. Not just the goals, but the decisions that lead to them.
Celtic are still in the fight. Very much so.
But nights like this leave a mark. And as the run-in tightens, those marks start to feel heavier than ever.