The Celtic penalty decision deep into injury time at Motherwell rages on. Even football luminaries like former England and Barcelona forward, Gary Lineker, a former Match of the Day presenter, has had his say on X, formerly Twitter.
Headlines in the national press this morning, including The Guardian. The debate raged on talkSport with regular pundit, Gabby Agbonlahor, slamming the decision.
And Sky Sports pundits shook their heads at the decision in this key William Hill Premiership clash. The facts are these. Video assistant referee (VAR), Andrew Dallas, called referee John Beaton to the pitch side monitor at Fir Park with the scoreline deadlock at 2-2 and the clock deep into injury time.
The move came after Motherwell player Sam Nicholson challenged for a high ball inside the home side’s penalty box.
His hand was raised. Beaton awarded a penalty after viewing footage. Lineker wrote that it “might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen”.
Later, in the Tynecastle Media Room, McInnes praised Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill, for the work he has done since taking over at Parkhead, and stressed he does not normally comment on other games.
However, Hearts’ head coach (pictured) said: “Normally, you come in once you do your lap of honour with the kids in the last home game, and they deserved that, so it was hard not to feel, everybody felt, the crowd felt, a little flat.
“I had heard that there was a 96th minute penalty, I did not need to ask who for and it was going to VAR.”
He added: “Celtic deserve a lot of credit, Martin (O’Neill) deserves a lot of credit because there are on such a good run of form. Celtic have been the best team for a last wee while. We have been top of the league for a long while, but like any true champions, whether it is boxing or whatever, there is a pride and you can see that.
“What Martin has done is make Celtic more of a team, than individuals. I thought that in the Old Firm game at the weekend, I thought Celtic looked more of a team and that comes from the manager.
“Sometimes in life you have to go and beat the champions, again, and take what you want to be yours, whether it is boxing or any sort of professional sport, and we need to go down there and put in a performance. It is set up perfectly.”
McInnes confirmed he had seen footage of the penalty incident at Fir Park and said: “You should not be commenting on other games, but I knew I would get asked the question and it feels like it is us against everybody.
“When you see the two (penaties) we did not get at the weekend (against Motherwell) and you see that (the incident at Fir Park), how they can arrive at that situation.
“Celtic are more than a touch fortunate to get that penalty. I am getting more and more dismayed at some of the decisions that the referees are coming up with.
“It is (the Celtic penalty incident) such a bad decision.”
McInnes added: “Motherwell must feel totally aggrieved with it. I had to keep looking for it. I thought I was missing something when I was watching it. What am I looking for here? It is actually quite disgusting, to be honest.”
