How 'disgusting' Celtic penalty set up fascinating final-day decider as Heart of Midlothian aim for historic Scottish Premiership title win
Updated 13/05/2026 at 23:50 GMT+1
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Heart of Midlothian head coach Derek McInnes has hit out at a "disgusting" late penalty awarded to Scottish Premiership title rivals Celtic.
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League leaders Hearts beat Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle on Wednesday night, while Celtic claimed a 3-2 win away to Motherwell thanks to a Kelechi Iheanacho penalty nine minutes into added time at Fir Park.
McInnes' side maintain a one-point advantage over Celtic before a final-day league decider between the two sides at Celtic Park on Saturday.
The spot kick was awarded after a seemingly innocuous aerial duel between Celtic's Auston Trusty and Motherwell's Sam Nicholson.
Nicholson's arm appeared to be raised near his head as he headed away a long throw into the box. Trusty, meanwhile, went down holding the side of his face. Referee John Beaton pointed to the spot after a pitchside VAR check.
Hearts are hoping to win their first title since 1960, and McInnes was scathing about the decision after the game.
"When they were checking a 96th minute penalty, you assume they [Celtic] are getting it," McInnes told Sky Sports. "It's disgusting. We're up against everybody. I don't think it's a penalty.
"If I'm Motherwell, I'm really disappointed. It's so poor, and it looks as though [Celtic] have been given it. They are very fortunate.
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"It's going to the last game. We're delighted to be part of it. To do it, we're going to have to go and get a positive result. What a game it's going to be."
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill claimed there was a handball as well as an elbow.
He said: "Well, I have seen it back very, very briefly. It's a handball. It looks as if it's also an elbow to the side of the head as well.
"VAR have asked the referee to come over and have a look at it, and he's [had] no hesitation in giving the penalty."
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On the game, O'Neill told BBC Scotland: "That's what we wanted to do at the beginning of the week, to try and take it into the final game of the season, and the players have certainly done that.
"It was a magnificent effort today.
"We may not win it, but what we have done is that we have fought really impressively, I think, throughout these last number of weeks."
Should Celtic have been held to a draw on Wednesday, they would have needed victory over Hearts on Saturday with a huge goal swing. As it stands now, a victory would suffice for O'Neill's side, while if Hearts avoid defeat, they will lift the title.
'Unreal moment'
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou labelled the penalty as an "unreal moment".
"I thought it was very unreal moment," he said. "I can't see any way in any world where that could be a penalty.
"I can't see a connection with the arm, but if there is, it's because he connects with Trusty, and he pushes his arm up.
"It's a shame that a good game, with good tempo and intensity, gets decided in a situation like that."
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