Hearts boss Derek McInnes has referred to as the penalty award for Celtic’s last-gasp winner at Motherwell “disgusting”.
With Celtic’s sport at Fir Park ticking into the a hundredth minute and stage at 2-2, Hearts had been primed to be topped champions at Celtic Park on Saturday lunchtime, reside on Sky Sports activities, having simply overwhelmed Falkirk 3-0.
Because it stood, Celtic would have wanted to beat Hearts in a final-day showdown by three objectives or extra to beat a goal-difference hole. Hearts had been trying huge favourites to safe their first title in 66 years.
However as an alternative, a controversial penalty was awarded to the defending champions following a VAR verify, with referee John Beaton judging Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson to have dedicated handball when an extended throw was launched into the field.
Kelechi Iheanacho transformed the spot-kick for Celtic with the final kick of the sport – and their 3-2 win means they face league-leaders Hearts with only one level separating the perimeters.
However did the ball hit Nicholson’s hand or head?
Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have given away a penalty for handball in opposition to Celtic
Within the Sky Sports activities studio, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd was adamant the ball hit Nicholson’s head and McInnes was additionally satisfied the penalty should not have been awarded.
“I think it’s disgusting. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick,” McInnes instructed Sky Sports activities. “But we’re up against it, we’re up against everybody and we’ll be ready for Saturday.
“There have been two extra shouts for a penalty kick at our sport at Motherwell. If I am Motherwell, I am actually disillusioned with that having seen it once more. I believe it is so poor that they have been on condition that penalty.
“They’ve been very fortunate on that side of it and we have to realise we’re up against everything.
“We have to simply go and take care of the sport on Saturday.”
Was the penalty resolution right or not?
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A late penalty name by VAR within the dying moments of Motherwell in opposition to Celtic causes uproar from the Sky Sports activities pundits
Because the lengthy throw got here in, Nicholson jumped up with Celtic’s Auston Trusty to attempt to head the ball.
Nicholson’s elbow was raised however then pushed additional up by Trusty’s shoulder as they jumped up collectively, along with his hand up close to his personal face.
“If it hits him on the hand, his arm is up and raised,” mentioned former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on co-commentary.
However pundits within the Sky Sports activities studio weren’t satisfied the ball did hit Nicholson’s hand.
“For that to fly off his head at this pace, if it hits your hand it will drop in front of you – it won’t fly off [like it did],” mentioned former Rangers striker Kris Boyd.
Former Hearts striker and supervisor John Robertson mentioned: “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.”
Former Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley mentioned: “The power on it takes it for a throw-in. I didn’t see too many Celtic players appeal for a penalty; I just thought it was a throw-in.
“His hand is up however it has clearly come off his head. That could be a header. The view is sort of troublesome. They [Celtic] have gotten fortunate.”
O’Neill: Penalty ‘fairly clear lower’ | Askou: It is stunning
The choice additionally break up the Celtic and Motherwell managers.
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill was satisfied it was a penalty, and argued that even when it wasn’t handball, Nicholson elbowed Trusty.
“Obviously, we got a penalty, which looks as if it’s a pretty clear cut,” O’Neill mentioned. “He’s given it for the handball, and also an elbow on top of that there as well.
“Clearly, I am delighted for the workforce and delighted for the supporters.”
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Martin O’Neil put up match after jubilant end result in opposition to Motherwell
In distinction, Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou mentioned: “I think the big question is, what are we even doing here, when things like that happen? I’m in total shock. I thought I’d seen it all this year, but apparently I haven’t. It’s shocking, it’s a shame for the game.
“I believe we did all the pieces we might and will to complete off. Actually robust at Fir Park this season, end the place we began, in an incredible sport of soccer between two groups who had good spells, each groups, through the sport.
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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic.
“I think coming back from 2-1, we did that really, really strongly. It felt totally unreal, and looking at it on the TV footage, no matter how you read that situation, I can’t see anywhere where you can find a paragraph in the rulebook where it can lead into a penalty.
“Even when he touches along with his fingernail, it is as a result of there’s contact when he goes up, his arm is right here, then he will get pushed into it, so it will by no means be a penalty anyway.
“Let’s say he actually did touch his hands, which I can’t see, no matter what angle I look at… Also, you can see the way the ball gets power, where the kid connects with the head and has a lot of power when it goes through. It’s a crazy thing to be part of, and I think the game deserved a lot better than that.”
