Motherwell vs Celtic: Keith Hackett reacts to Callum Slattery penalty call after Callum McGregor incident
Motherwell wanted a penalty against Celtic on Wednesday night after Callum Slattery went down in the area under challenge from Callum McGregor.
The Motherwell players were up in arms after John Beaton waved away their claims for a spot kick in the 55th minute, but Keith Hackett has insisted to Football Insider that the referee was right to ignore their protests.
Slattery had dribbled into the Hoops’ area before going to ground following a challenge by McGregor, but was adjudged to have slipped before any contact was made.
The importance of Beaton’s call not to give a penalty was heightened after he controversially awarded Celtic a spot kick for handball by Motherwell substitute Sam Nicholson in the 99th minute.
Kelechi Iheanacho slammed home the penalty to set up a winner-takes-all clash at Parkhead in Celtic’s next match against table-toppers Hearts on Saturday.
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VISIT THE CELTIC MATCH HUBKeith Hackett agrees with John Beaton as Callum Slattery denied penalty vs Celtic
Slattery was handed a retrospective four-game ban for simulation in March, so does have a reputation among Scottish referees for similar incidents.
Hackett has insisted that, while he did not dive to try and win a penalty against Celtic, there was not enough contact between him and McGregor for Beaton to point to the spot.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-FIFA referee said: “Looking at this incident and the actions of the attacking player, there is enough doubt in this to not award a penalty kick, on the grounds that there appeared to be a slip in his attempt to quickly change direction.
| Hearts last five games | Celtic’s last five games |
| 3-0 W vs Falkirk | 3-2 W vs Motherwell |
| 1-1 D vs Motherwell | 3-1 W vs Rangers |
| 2-1 W vs Rangers | 2-1 W vs Hibernian |
| 2-1 W vs Hibernian | 3-1 W vs Falkirk |
| 3-1 W vs Motherwell | 6-2 W vs St. Mirren |
“At the point of the slip, contact is made with his opponent. I believe that to overturn the appeal and allow play to continue is the correct call.”
Hackett has changed his mind on controversial Celtic penalty call
The penalty decision that had many Motherwell, Rangers and Hearts supporters up in arms came in the final seconds of the Fir Park clash as Nicholson was penalised for a controversial handball.
Former PGMOL chief Hackett initially believed that a penalty was the right call, but has now tracked back and said that Celtic should not have had a spot kick against Motherwell as there was no offence by the hosts’ player.
“I have taken another look at the penalty kick awarded to Celtic in the 97th minute. My first observation was that it was awarded for handball,” he told Football Insider.
“This judgment was based on the unnatural position of the defender’s arm. However, when you look at this incident on the big screen, there is no conclusive evidence that the ball has come into contact with the defender when he is clearing it with his head.
“We then look at the position of the defender’s arm, and for me, football is a contact sport and there is a natural coming together.
“I do not see a push that impacts on the Celtic player. So in review, I believe that this decision is incorrect.”
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