Scottish FA panel rules VAR stoppage-time penalty for Celtic incorrect

A Scottish Football Association panel has ruled that Celtic should not have been awarded a stoppage-time penalty in their recent match against Motherwell, a decision that significantly impacted the final stages of the Premiership title race. The Key Match Incident panel concluded that the intervention by the video assistant referee was incorrect and that the on-field decision to play on should have stood.

The incident occurred deep into added time at Fir Park with the score tied at 2-2. VAR official Andrew Dallas alerted referee John Beaton to a potential handball by Motherwell winger Sam Nicholson during an aerial challenge with Celtic defender Auston Trusty. After a brief review at the pitchside monitor, Beaton awarded a penalty. Celtic’s Kelechi Iheanacho converted the spot-kick to secure a 3-2 victory.

That result altered the final-day calculations. Instead of needing a three-goal victory over Hearts to win the title, Celtic only required any win. They subsequently defeated Hearts 3-1 at Celtic Park to clinch the championship. Hearts finished two points behind Celtic.

The panel’s published verdict stated that a majority of its members deemed the original on-field decision...