The late penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell is still dominating discussion weeks later – and now the Fir Park side’s goalkeeper has broken his silence on the incident.
The decision proved one of the defining moments of the Premiership title race.
Deep into stoppage time during Celtic’s dramatic 3-2 win at Fir Park, VAR official Andrew Dallas advised referee John Beaton to review a potential handball involving Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson inside the area.
After a brief trip to the monitor, Beaton pointed to the spot and Kelechi Iheanacho converted the penalty which ultimately kept Martin O’Neill’s side alive in the title race.
Without that goal, Hearts would have travelled to Celtic Park on the final day knowing even a defeat by two goals would still have secured them the league title.
Instead, Celtic entered the match simply needing to win, which they eventually did dramatically against Hearts.
Now, speaking after the season concluded, the Motherwell goalkeeper admitted players inside the box were initially completely unaware anything had even happened.
He said to the Daily Record:
“It’s hard to say anything, because at the time every player in that box doesn’t see what happened.
“You don’t see anyone claiming for it, you don’t hear any noise from the fans – it’s just like another throw-in.
“You see the referee put his finger to his ear and you are like ‘right, something is going on here, we just don’t know what’.
“After seeing it back after the game it’s hard to see how he has come to that decision in such a short amount of time. Was it, what, 20 seconds he was over there?
“It’s one of the biggest decisions in the season to make, and you have made it in 20 seconds? You think making it so quickly means it’s so obvious.
“There is an angle that has come out recently from behind the goal that literally has the ball coming off the top of this head. So, it was even more sickening after the game.”
The decision remains one of the most fiercely argued VAR moments of the Scottish season and continues to frustrate Hearts and Motherwell supporters given its enormous impact on how the title race ultimately unfolded.
But as you see week in, week out in the SPFL, some decisions go for you and others don’t. When it happens against Celtic, we’re told to get on with it, and it all balances out…
The Motherwell keeper must have forgot he cleaned out Maeda and should have been sent off and a penalty given.I believe Var should have checked that and that’s maybe why they checked for a penalty at the end of game karma.
100%
I guess the keeper wasn’t watching the same game as me then!
But aside from that, someone should tell him the season is over! It’s time to grow up and accept defeat!
It’s okay to be wrong sometimes! 🤷🏼♂️
This site doesnt have to talk about,does it?
dodgy as snoopy dog.