'Disgusting' - Hearts boss McInnes slams controversial last-gasp Celtic penalty
TL;DR
Hearts boss Derek McInnes criticized the controversial penalty awarded to Celtic in the last minute of their match against Motherwell, calling it 'disgusting'. The penalty allowed Celtic to secure a last-gasp winner, impacting Hearts' chance to be crowned champions.
Key points
- Hearts boss Derek McInnes criticized the penalty decision
- Celtic secured a last-minute winner against Motherwell
- The penalty was awarded after a VAR check
- Referee John Beaton ruled a handball by Sam Nicholson
- Hearts were close to being crowned champions before the penalty
Mentioned in this story
Hearts boss Derek McInnes has called the penalty award for Celtic's last-gasp winner at Motherwell "disgusting".
With Celtic's game at Fir Park ticking into the 100th minute and level at 2-2, Hearts were primed to be crowned champions at Celtic Park on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports, having just beaten Falkirk 3-0.
As it stood, Celtic would have needed to beat Hearts in a final-day showdown by three goals or more to overcome a goal-difference gap.
But instead, a controversial penalty was awarded to the defending champions following a VAR check, with referee John Beaton judging Motherwell's Sam Nicholson to have committed handball when a long throw was launched into the box.
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VAR awarded Celtic a penalty in the dying seconds of the game as the ball appeared to hit Motherwell's Sam Nicholson hand after a throw-in, which Kelechi Iheanacho made no mistake in 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?
Image: Motherwell's Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have given away a penalty for handball against Celtic
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In the Sky Sports studio, former Rangers striker Kris Boyd was adamant the ball hit Nicholson's head and McInnes was also convinced the penalty shouldn't have been awarded.
"I think it's disgusting. I don't think it's a penalty kick," McInnes told Sky Sports. "But we're up against it, we're up against everybody and we'll be ready for Saturday.
"There were two more shouts for a penalty kick at our game at Motherwell. 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 been very fortunate on that side of it and we have to realise we're up against everything.
"We need to just go and deal with the game on Saturday."
Was the penalty decision correct or not?
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A late penalty call by VAR in the dying moments of Motherwell against Celtic causes uproar from the Sky Sports pundits
As the long throw came in, Nicholson jumped up with Celtic's Auston Trusty to try to head the ball.
Nicholson's elbow was raised but then pushed further up by Trusty's shoulder as they jumped up together, with his hand up near his own face.
"If it hits him on the hand, his arm is up and raised," said former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on co-commentary.
But pundits in the Sky Sports studio weren't convinced 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]," said former Rangers striker Kris Boyd.
Former Hearts striker and manager John Robertson said: "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 said: "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 but it has clearly come off his head. That is a header. The view is quite difficult. They [Celtic] have got lucky."
More to follow...
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Q&A
What did Hearts boss Derek McInnes say about the Celtic penalty?
Derek McInnes described the penalty awarded to Celtic as 'disgusting'.
How did the penalty affect the championship standings?
The penalty allowed Celtic to win the match, which altered the championship scenario for Hearts, who were close to being crowned champions.
What was the reason for the penalty awarded to Celtic?
The penalty was awarded after a VAR check determined that Motherwell's Sam Nicholson committed a handball during a long throw into the box.
When did the controversial penalty occur in the match?
The penalty was awarded in the 100th minute of the match, just before the game concluded.