You never really know what to expect from the SFA Key Match Incident Review Panel, the body which gives a cool-heads assessment of referee and VAR decisions. However, the Panel’s view on the Celtic penalty incident at Fir Park last night will be unanimous in backing the officials.
Their assessment will go along the lines of: “Did the ball hit the defender’s hand when it was raised above shoulder height?” “Yes.” End of investigation. There can be no other outcome.
Was it unfortunate on Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson? Absolutely! Apart from competing for the ball with his arms by his side or behind his back (which some defenders now do by default), this is a low-percentage risk, less than 1% chance of it resulting in a handball. It was a rough break.
Was it unfortunate on Hearts? Tangentially. They came close to winning the league last night and today have to live through uncertainty which must be causing havoc in their minds. They should not make the mistake of assuming life is fair. Look around, it is not. If life was fair, the Edinburgh jury at a trial for an assault on Neil Lennon at Tynecastle would have came to a different conclusion. They should ask Neil if life is always fair.
I understand the reactions of all football fans this morning. Hearts and Motherwell fans complaining, Celtic fans, with the gift of being able to see photos of Nicholson’s hand on the ball, with a different take. I even ‘get’ why neutrals are blinded by the wish for a minnow to win the title to overlook the inconvenient hand-on-the-ball thing! They are all football fans, cut them some slack.
What is disturbing is a football manager ahead of a huge game calling a referee decision “disgusting”, as Hearts boss Derek McInness did last night. The assault on Neil Lennon did not happen in a vacuum. For years, people around the game painted the then-Celtic manager as a character who “Brings it on himself”. The assault was made with a fist, but the flames were fanned with microphones and keyboards.
McInnes might think his invective can inhibit Saturday’s officials from working with a straight bat, I encourage them to stand up to his intimidation. There was no mistake made at last night’s penalty award, there are no victims to compensate. Referee Celtic-Hearts as a stand-alone football match.
Everyone who makes their money around the game would be well advised to take emotion out of their analysis on this occasion. Look at the evidence, ask yourself, did referee John Beaton or VAR Andrew Dallas (well done to both) really subvert facts to hand Celtic a key advantage? Otherwise, you are fanning more flames for a toxic group of people.
Derek McInnes might still end the season as the title winning manager, but after last night, he deserves nothing from the campaign. The entire football community must stand firmly against heading down the road where a loaded term like “disgusting” is thrown around before a powder keg football game.
144 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
It is utterly remarkable that the two officials considered – quite legitimately – to be virulently anti-Celtic combined to award us that penalty. Perhaps that was because it was a no-brainer and also because they knew that the earlier Maeda incident had been of the stonewall category.
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/2053584613352620394/mediaviewer
I admit it.
I’m hooked.
This should win an award
turkeybhoy@11.20
Thought in our last few games post split we were getting a better balance in midfield….but last night at times Motherwell played round us, through us and over us from the back. We play like that Hearts are more than capable of beating us. Wasn’t the only one on here to point out our weaknesses in real time, eg someone pointed out that CalMac was chasing shadows out wide @ times, and that was not helping. Of course we have home ad, but we will need more than that to win the match, we need the right line-up, formation and tactics to counter Hearts strengths, as in all over the park. We need to get it right, right from the start.
play jamesie.
saint stivs
Might not be a bad idea. Hearts have got Harry Milne back at left back, need to keep him from getting forward.
Then again Yang has been pretty effective out rhs, and is more capable of getting a goal.
I think Alistair Johnston will be a major target for Hearts and the MIBS on Saturday esp with all this “ manufactured furore “ over last few days .Hopefully Martin will have a word in his ear in this regard .🤔🍀
So, apart from the stress that it would cause us all, my preferred result on Saturday would be a 1-0 win.
I’ve maybe listened to too much media in the last 24 hours, but I’m so tired of the noise from the anti-Celtic contingent.
Instead of blowing Hearts away, I’d prefer to just sneak past them and leave them all thinking that Beaton and Dallas gave us some help to win the title.
COYBIG!
Cannae wait for Saturday – watching for the first time with my kids at the CSC.
One interesting thing about watching Sky and Shorty – Boyd, Sutton, even Stewart is that none of them know the rule and current guidelines on interpretation. Most of them just decided that they didn’t want Celtic to get a penalty and worked back from there. That is why this incident is the focus, not the assault on Maeda at the other end.
We now see the anti-Celtic mindset that still pervades (much of it is against big successful Glasgow club, fair enough, but some of it runs deeper, as others have said on here).
I really hope it hasn’t distracted the boys. If they win tomorrow we thoroughly deserve it. I am hoping our leaders – MON, CalMac, KT, Scales, AJ and Maeda all stand up. They could be legends by mid-afternoon.
Oh, and where is the media coverage of 40 years since Albert Kidd? Plenty of helicopter chat, but not much about Hearts bottling their own other chance of a title. I am assuming we will remind them tomorrow.
All the Scottish media crap about Hearts challenge has created huge global interest in the SPL is total bullshit.
I went to a dozen or so sports bars and Irish pubs in Aix en P yesterday. Not a single bar had a clue about a football game from Scotland that the whole world was interested in. None will be showing it despite no rival football at same time. Most preferring the Giro Italia.
So it will be watching it on the balcony of the apartment for me. Could be worse I guess it could be short wave radio and World Service with David Francey for the last 30 minutes.
burnley78
Nice bit o’ self promo there….
Maybe the locals will be too busy supporting their own local football team…
If they know who it is n’est-ce pas?
GetYerMarzipanBarsIciCSC
b78
good luck to your son and daughter-in-law
The Scottish FA support referee John Beaton’s decision to award a controversial late penalty to Celtic, which was converted to secure the title-chasing Scottish Premiership champions a 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday evening. (Glasgow Times)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8e810r945ro
Good morning all from Govanhill. Lovely day in old Glasgow Town. 🌞
Bright skies over Parkhead where the Hoops glisten in the sun.
Sevco get ‘penalties’.
Celtic get ‘controversial penalties’.
Capn Tav issued a statement digging out Danny.
This kind of LeGuen-ing is endemic at the Gimpdome.Watch Rohl get filleted next.
Rinse and repeat.
All that Jan expenditure to finish 3rd.
Quintessentially Dignified.
Bwahhaahha 😅
Actually – the best song to greet Hearts at CP tomorrow is Careless Hands.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDYdF6whhxA
The lyrics fit beautifully…
I let my heart fall into careless hands
Careless hands broke my heart in two
You held my dreams like worthless grains of sand
Careless hands don’t care when dreams slip through
Morning Celts
Famine memorial strip to be worn tomorrow
https://x.com/i/status/2055207431299313805
HH
BHOYS TOWN The Blessed Martin and Callum are already legends. If Maeda scores the winning goal tomorrow and the cup final he will be heading in the right direction. All the other bhoys want to prove they fit the hoops. It’s going to be a long night and day. Hail hail
Paul 67, great post, agree 100%. Not often I say that.
Bhoys Town
You continue to get swayed about the pash written by folk who do not give a fooq bout Celtic.
Use it as bog roll
HH
iwas oot, but now i am back.
that me back in, in.
not out out.
Remembering Tommy Burns and the genius of Bobby Murdoch
https://x.com/i/status/2055172744120000649
HH
You’re out and out back in, I gather.
Celtic were AWARDED a penalty…why ALL the fuss.
new article posted.
quadrophenian on 15th May 2026 9:46 am
Capn Tav issued a statement digging out Danny.
This kind of LeGuen-ing is endemic at the Gimpdome.Watch Rohl get filleted next.
Rinse and repeat.
——————-
danny is working his ticket.
going from favourites at the split witht the “direct entry to champions league riches” already being counted by the sleverers in the board room and the wider media, to now the also rans who cant win any of their must win cup finals.
that event, direct entry, was to be the inflection point for a future generation of domination, sure Keevins was tellin us.
But back to Danny, losing games in the manner they do, toothless, not fighting, meek, not dignified, dare we say it ……. they surrendered.
Barry and the rest go back to the old bigots clarion call, the problem is, we aint “scottish” enough, ergo, we dont have enough of our ain kind, and what kind would that be pray (well whatever is the equivalent from the pulpit, is it a rant ?) be ?
Danny , a tim name if ever there was one, doesnt get it, he is not Scottish enough, he pulled on the blazer and brogues, but over-time, you can tell he doesnt get it, that hair for a start, those excuses for failing he is becoming Pedro, Michael (wtaf) and Philippe rohled into one. And with a Herr-flick accent.
Have a look at the pictures, he is Russell Martin on monjarou.
So, his latest actions, dropping the much maligned longest serving record goal scoring most appearances, most decorated captain (the full scottish set, one of each major), a bridge too far for the loyal bears, they might hate the Tav, but they can still say cheerio in a dignified manner, not getting a last chance to boo their appreciation, well thats just not rangers anymore is it.
So, what does Danny do, four lost cup finals, and another to come, he goes and has a conflab with a couple of Onion Bears, seriously, what do you learn from that ? here you why didnt you pick x, play the y formation and do triple xxx to them embra scummy terrorist supporting tims without the bus-fare, those cousins of Declan flying flegs of foreign country, why dont they go home, so Danny you get it now, no surrender, we are still the people.
But lads, I know we share a dream ………. have you seen my new shoes.
So, imho, he is working his ticket, a move to a middle club in a bigger league would be much more cosy, maybe even have nicer fanatics, only a matter of time.
What are the owners, a mysterious group known as notthe49ers meant to make of it all ?
Toodle pip, we have a championship to win.
Burnley78 on 15th May 2026 7:18 am
All the Scottish media crap about Hearts challenge has created huge global interest in the SPL is total bullshit.
_____
Yep. The BBC news girl said all the world was talking. Then went on to mention Gary Linekar. Quite simple, it’s engrained deep-rooted bias and discrimination, against us.
A strong referee? Step forward Don Robertson 😱. He always seems to disrupt the flow of the game.
The 4-2 game was our last match but not for the Huns. Final day winner taked all in direct competition, are quite rare (in my lifetime).
I looked and in Germany there hasn’t been a story on Hearts in the Sportschau (main sport outlet from the public broadcaster) since January. In “Kicker” magazine there was a story yesterday, but it’s quite impartial. By the way, they say this about the penalty: “In the scramble, the 31-year-old’s (Nicholson’s) own wrist came up against his face, and he was unlucky that the ball bounced directly onto his hand—which was raised to his head. VAR called the referee over to the screen, which indeed showed the incident clearly.”