Credit: Sky Sports News

Evan Lloyd

Mon 25 May 2026 10:42, UK

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Dermot Gallagher and Tim Sherwood have agreed that Celtic’s match-winning penalty against Motherwell earlier this month was wrongfully awarded.

Referee John Beaton had not initially awarded a penalty, but VAR sent him to the screen to look at replays of Sam Nicholson’s hand appearing to touch the ball as he went to head it away.

The referee pointed to the spot after a short look, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring to make it 3-2 and put the Scottish Premiership title back in Celtic’s hands.

Had the scores ended level, Hearts would have just needed to avoid losing by three goals at Celtic Park for the final match, but, needing any type of win, the Hoops won 3-1 and claimed the title.

The SFA’s key match incident panel has since voted that Celtic’s penalty at Motherwell should not have been awarded, fuelling controversy.

Dermot Gallagher and Tim Sherwood on Celtic penalty

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Celtic’s penalty at Motherwell should not have been given, explaining that there is no conclusive evidence that the ball does strike the arm.

There was also the argument that the jump of Auston Trusty appeared to knock Nicholson’s hand into the path of the ball.

Had his arm been up there already, it would be hard to argue that it was in a natural position, but the incident was far from ‘clear and obvious’. Motherwell had been on top in the latter stages of the game, with Celtic forced to look for a winner late on.

Elliot Watt and Daizen Maeda had both scored in the first half, before Benjamin Nygren put the Bhoys ahead after the break.

Liam Gordon would send Fir Park and Tynecastle Park into hysterics when he scored in the 85th minute, but it would be short lived.

“I didn’t think it was a penalty,” former Premier League referee Gallagher told Sky Sports News on Monday. I was struggling to think how that ball could rebound so far off his hand, so I thought it came off his head.

“It was such a big, big call that I feel you need to be absolutely certain before you send the referee to the screen, and I couldn’t have felt certain.”

Sherwood agreed and said: “Never a penalty in my opinion. I saw it at the time, when they were looking for a penalty, I thought maybe for the elbow across the face.

“I feel sorry for the referee. As soon as they send him across to the monitor, he’s got no option but to give it. I think there’s far too much pressure on him.”

What did Derek McInnes say about Celtic penalty?

Hearts found out about the Celtic penalty and winner in the moments after they had beaten Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle Park.

For around 15 minutes, they had been in dreamland, simply needing to avoid humiliation at Celtic Park to win the title for the first time since 1960.

A contentious penalty took that moment away, however, and it ultimately took away dreams of the title, too.

Derek McInnes was furious at the decision and, in a post-game rant to Sky Sports, said: “When you heard Celtic had a 96th-minute penalty going to VAR, you just assume they get it.

“It’s disgusting. We’re up against it, we’re up against everybody. I don’t think it’s a penalty. It’s so poor and it looks as though [Celtic] have been given it. They have been very fortunate.”