'Systemic failure' & 'over the top reactions' - penalty controversy continues
The fallout from Celtic's 99th-minute highly contentious penalty winner at Fir Park rumbles on. With the score tied at 2-2, referee John Beaton, after being sent for an onfield review, judged Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson to have handled the ball inside the box and awarded a spot-kick. Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho converted to keep Martin O'Neill's side one point behind leaders and take the title race to a final-day showdown between the two at Parkhead.
Former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast : "I think it's the magnitude of the decision, the repercussions of it. "I think in any other game of the season you probably can't say bad decision but because of the repercussions of it, and what was at stake at that point, at that minute in the game, not just for Hearts but also for Motherwell. "It wasn't a clear and obvious error by a referee so why is VAR getting involved?
That's the big question. "It's a massive swing in the game and it's a hugely controversial decision. This is a decision that will get talked about for years to come.
" Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton wrote on X : "Now the dust has settled. The reaction from many high profile people is way over the top. "John Beaton was advised to go to the monitor and saw that the ball hit the arm in an unnatural position.
Bottom line is people would hate to see Celtic win the title again and that is all. " Former Premiership referee Steve Conroy told BBC Radio Scotland: "It's a nonsense to think anybody could say that that was a deliberate attempt at a handball. "This is an indication of a systemic failure from the SFA in how we deal with VAR.