Hearts boss Derek McInnes described the controversial last-minute penalty awarded to Celtic to take the Scottish Premiership title race down to the final day as “disgusting”.
Hearts, bidding to win a first league title since 1960, were on course to take a three-point advantage and a superior goal difference to Celtic Park for a final day shoot-out after beating Falkirk 3-0.
Celtic, though, kept the title in their hands as Kelechi Iheanacho’s 99th-minute penalty secured a 3-2 win at Motherwell, but in highly dubious circumstances as Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson was ruled to have handled.
Nicholson, though, appeared to have headed the ball away and it left McInnes feeling it was “us against everybody” in the title race. “It’s such a bad decision,” McInnes said. “It is quite disgusting, to be honest.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker agreed, posting on X: “This might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen (and there’s a lot of competition). Extraordinary given the significance.”
Hearts can still win the title if they avoid defeat at Celtic on Saturday, while the hosts need to win to claim a 14th title in 15 years and momentum is on their side after six wins in a row.
A 90-minute final
The last time two opponents went head-to-head for the title on the final day of the season was 1991, when Rangers beat Aberdeen at Ibrox.
Who will triumph in 2026?
Mike Jones14 May 2026 01:34
Shankland’s thoughts on title race
Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland stopped by BBC Sportsound and spoke about the title race.
He said: “We were fully prepared for going to Celtic Park at the weekend and needing a result. Obviously we were aware the situation could have changed but all that was in our heads was to win tonight and go again at the weekend.
“We’ve been there and won a couple of times during my time as a Hearts player. We go there confident and we’ve been top of the league all season.
“It’s a 90-minute cup final, it’s as simple as that. If you offered us that at the start of the season we would have taken it all day.
“It’s going to be two teams looking to go for it and going for a title and it’ll be exciting for everyone.”
Mike Jones14 May 2026 00:34
Hearts unbeaten against Celtic
This season Hearts have been in the type of form that wins league titles. They are now just 90 minutes away from securing a historic win but it is Celtic who stand in their way.
But, Hearts are unbeaten against the defending champions this season, winning two of the three meetings, including a 2-1 triumph at Celtic Park in December.
Mike Jones13 May 2026 23:54
‘Worst VAR decision ever’: Hearts rage at ‘disgusting’ Celtic penalty call which keeps title race alive
Hearts boss Derek McInnes slammed a “disgusting” late penalty awarded to Celtic on Wednesday night – which stretched a dramatic Scottish Premiership title race to the final day.
Hearts, eyeing their first title in 66 years, had one hand on the trophy after their 3-0 win over Falkirk, with Celtic drawing 2-2 away at Motherwell. If it ended that way, Celtic would have needed to win by six goals or more in their final day showdown on Saturday to win the title.
Kieran Jackson13 May 2026 23:48
Celtic will get the job done
Former Celtic defender, Darren O’Dea, spoke about his old club’s chances of winning the title on Saturday and told BBC Radio Scotland:
“I don’t think Celtic will blow Hearts away by any means but I do think they will get the job done.
“The energy from the crowd will be through the roof.”
Mike Jones13 May 2026 23:45
Celtic now favourites for title
With Celtic only being one point behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership table it’s all or nothing in the final match of the season this Saturday.
The two title rivals face off against each other at Celtic Park and it is the Hoops who are the favourites to win the game and the league with bookers.
Celtic are 4/6 favourites to pip Hearts to the post and it’ll be a fascinating encounter.
Hearts only need to avoid defeat while Celtic need to win but with a home crowd backing them, Celtic probably do have a slight advantage.
Mike Jones13 May 2026 23:34
It could go either way says O’Neill
Martin O’Neill says that Celtic have done a fine job of taking the title race to the very last day of the season and admitted he has been impressed by the fight shown by his players.
He 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.
“When we lost at Tannadice, I keep going back to that, it was unimaginable for us to get back into the race in many aspects, thinking that you couldn’t even drop a point, and for us to win the league, we couldn’t drop a point from then on in.
“I think the players have shown enormous character to keep fighting right to the very, very end, and they’ve done that again.
“It could go either way, could go any way, but at least we’ve taken it to the final game.”
Mike Jones13 May 2026 23:24
In an increasingly controversial title race, Hearts now know what they’re up against
The full-time whistle blew at Tynecastle but the celebrations were muted, and eyes remained elsewhere. On a delirious, dizzying evening where Hearts felt their grip on a first title since 1960 tighten, this became the night where the league was pulled further from their reach.
In some places in the Gorgie Road End, the same message that has accompanied this extraordinary season remained: “One more to go, believe!” But their defiance no longer felt as emphatic. On the pitch, players gathered around phones. In the stands, supporters huddled together and waited for the news. Together, they watched as Celtic scored a late, controversial penalty to beat Motherwell and take the title race down to a final-day showdown at Parkhead.
Jamie Braidwood13 May 2026 23:20
O’Neill praises Iheanacho
More from the Celtic boss who was quick to praise the mentality of Kelechi Iheanacho as he scored the spot kick.
“Iheanacho has been terrific for us with the little cameo roles that he’s done,” he said.
“He’s had a really frustrating time this season with hamstring problems, but he has come up big for us in these weeks, absolutely big, and he was the one taking the penalty.
“I was delighted that he was the one who was taking it.
Mike Jones13 May 2026 23:14
Martin O’Neill on penalty decision
The Celtic manager, Martin O’Neill, has backed the VAR decision to award his team a late penalty seemingly going against the views of every other football professional talking about the controversy.
O’Neill toll BBC Scotland: “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.”
Mike Jones13 May 2026 23:09
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