Following the sheer chaos of midweek, it felt almost inevitable that a penalty would be awarded during Celtic and Hearts’ massive title showdown on Saturday afternoon.
Celtic were awarded a penalty just before the end of the first half, when Alexandros Kyziridis was punished for handball when he tried to block a cross from entering Hearts’ penalty area.
The on-field referee was Don Robertson, and unlike John Beaton at Fir Park, he pointed straight to the spot kick, backed up by VAR and Celtic were awarded a penalty.
To nobody’s surprise, Derek McInnes was annoyed on the touchline when it was given, including sarcastically applauding, but Hearts legend John Robertson left the Jambos boss isolated in his complaints, because he felt the correct call was made.
Robertson: “Penalty. Celtic. Shock. Nah, listen, it doesn’t matter what team you are there, you want a penalty for that. His hands are up.
“We have said that, it has hit him from about a yard away. But if your hand is in that position, more than likely, 99 times out of 100, you are going to get a penalty.”
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Arne Engels dispatched the spot kick, and it proved to be pivotal because it meant Celtic could breathe easier at the half-time break.
Only one more goal was needed to clinch the title, but two came right at the death, with Daizen Maeda’s 87th-minute winner being checked and verified by VAR.
But that spot-kick from Engels can’t be forgotten about. In fact, that whole moment and passage of play, because if Celtic had gone into the break behind, then it might have been a different story at the end of the day.
While the footballing world went mad at Celtic getting a late penalty against Motherwell, it’s fair to say there were zero complaints this time, with James McFadden and Scott Brown also backing up the call on Sky Sports.
McFadden: “No (complaints about the penalty award). But there can be sympathy when Kyziridis goes to ground; there is nowhere he can put his arm.
“But by the laws of the game, it’s a penalty kick. I don’t think there can be any complaints. No doubt there will be complaints about it. It’s a penalty kick, no doubt. Don Robertson spots it, and it’s checked by VAR. Correct decision.
“There will be people going off their heads over the award of the penalty kick, but it was a penalty kick.”
Brown: “I am with Faddy here as well. I do sympathise. It’s clear and obvious that one. It’s hit his hand, nice and easy. Even Robbo is going to agree with us here.”
Robertson: “Penalty. Celtic. Shock. Nah, listen, it doesn’t matter what team you are there, you want a penalty for that. His hands are up.
“We have said that, it has hit him from about a yard away. But if your hand is in that position, more than likely, 99 times out of 100, you are going to get a penalty.”
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