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Hearts boss Derek McInnes called the penalty award for Celtic’s last-gasp winner at Motherwell “disgusting”.
Celtic at Fir Park In the 100th minute and a 2-2 draw, Hearts were crowned champions at Celtic Park on Saturday lunchtime, LIVE Sky SportsJust beat Falkirk 3-0.
As it stands, Celtic need to beat Hearts in the final day’s showdown by three goals or more to overcome a goal-difference gap. Hearts were looking big favorites to secure their first title in 66 years.
But instead, the defending champions were awarded a controversial penalty after a VAR check, with referee John Beaton promising Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson a handball when he launched a long throw into the box.
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VAR awarded Celtic a penalty in the final seconds of the game as the ball fell into the hands of Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson after a throw-in, which Kelechi Iheanacho made no mistake converting from the spot.
Kelechi Iheanacho converted the spot-kick for Celtic with the last kick of the game – and their 3-2 win means they face league-leaders Hearts with just one point separating the sides.
But did the ball hit Nicholson’s hand or head?
Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have awarded a penalty for handball against Celtic
in Sky Sports Studio, former Rangers striker Chris Boyd was adamant about Nicholson hitting the ball on the head and McInnes was also adamant that the penalty should not have been awarded.
“I think it’s disgusting. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick,” McInnes said Sky Sports. “But we’re up against it, we’re up against everybody and we’ll be ready for Saturday.
“We had two more shouts for penalty kicks in our game at Motherwell. If I was Motherwell, I’d be really disappointed to see that again. I think it’s so bad that they were given that penalty.
“They are very lucky towards it and we have to understand that we are up against everything.
“We just have to go and deal with Saturday’s game.”
Was the penalty decision correct?
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VAR’s late penalty call in Motherwell’s last-minute win over Celtic sparks uproar from Sky Sports pundits
As the long throw came in, Nicholson tried to head the ball with Celtic’s Auston Trusty leapfrogging.
Nicholson’s elbow was raised but then pushed further up by the trustee’s shoulder as they jumped up together, hands to his own mouth.
“If it hits his hand, his arm is up and raised,” former Celtic striker Chris Sutton co-commented.
But among scholars Sky Sports The studios weren’t sure the ball hit Nicholson.
“For it to fly off its head at that speed, if it hits your hand it will fall in front of you – it won’t fly (like it did),” former Rangers striker Chris Boyd said.
Former Hearts striker and manager John Robertson said: “I don’t know if it hit him in the hand, I think it’s in the head. His hand is up and if it hits his hand it’s a penalty.”
Former Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley said: “The power of it takes it for a throw-in. I haven’t seen many Celtic players appeal for a penalty; I thought it was a throw-in.
“His hand is up but it’s clearly out of his head. It’s a header. It’s a tough scene. They (Celtic) are lucky.”
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The decision has also divided Celtic and Motherwell managers.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill was convinced it was a penalty, and argued that even if it wasn’t a handball, Nicholson had elbowed the trustee.
“Obviously, we got a penalty, which looked like it was a pretty clean cut,” O’Neill said. “He gave it for the handball and also an elbow on it.
“Of course, I’m happy for the team and happy for the supporters.”
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Martin O’Neill posted the match after a rousing result against Motherwell
In contrast, Motherwell boss Jens Barthel Askew said: “I think the big question is, what are we doing here, when something like this happens? I’m completely shocked. I thought I’d see it this year, but obviously I haven’t. It’s shocking, it’s a shame for the game.
“I think we did everything we could and should have done to finish. Really strong at Fir Park this season, where we started, in a great game of football between two teams who had good spells during the game, both teams finished well.
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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic.
“I think coming back from 2-1 down, we did it really, really strongly. It felt completely unreal, and watching it on TV footage, no matter how you read the situation, I don’t see anywhere in the rulebook where you can find a paragraph where it could have led to a penalty.
“Even if he touches it with his fingernail, because there’s contact when he goes up, his arm is here, then he hits it, so it’s never going to be a penalty.
“Let’s say he actually touched his hand, which I can’t see, no matter where I look…Also, you see how the ball gets power, where the kid connects with the head and has a lot of power when it goes. It’s a crazy thing to be a part of, and I think the game deserved a lot better.”
