GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MARCH 01: Celtic's Reo Hatate scores to make it 2-2 during a William Hill Premiership match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium, on March 01, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
There were spectacular scenes of celebration from the away fans at Ibrox today.
With 87 minutes on the clock James Forrest fired a cross into the six yard box.
Limbs! could have been the call as Daizen Maeda, Super Jack Butland and Dujon Sterling tangled for the ball.
The limb that mattered was the left arm of Sterling as he deflected Maeda’s header against Butland and towards safety.
PENALTY AT IBROX!
John Beaton was forced to stop play, there was a very guilty look on Sterling’s face as the Sky Sports cameras zoomed in.
Time stood still for the man from the Crown Bar in Bellshill.
There was no way that he could give anything other than a penalty to Celtic.
Beaton reviewed the incident five or six times, there was no escaping the inevitable. As he returned to the pitch he pointed to the penalty spot.
Try explaining this moment to someone who doesn’t get it. You simply can’t, unreal. This is why we do it. pic.twitter.com/m5CRUBkXoT
— SR67 (@SBR1888) March 1, 2026
Celtic’s most regular penalty taker, Arne Engels has missed the last six matches through injury.
Incredibly Reo Hatate held the ball and stepped forward to take the award. His record from penalties is patchy.
He tends to side-foot them, rarely finding the corner of the net, rarely lifting his shots high into the net.
Hatate’s shot was blocked by Butland. So was the rebound but at the third attempt he scrambled the ball into the net under pressure from Daizen Maeda. One area of Ibrox erupted.
In the corner housing the Celtic fans the scenes were epic, fans were everywhere.
The dismay of half time was replaced by delight at the equaliser and the prospect of six minutes.
There were no more goals.
The home fans soon emptied.
As Sky Sports provided their post-match analysis the backdrop was of Celtic fans celebrating at Ibrox.
They’ll be back at Ibrox again next Sunday- with 6,000 more singing Simply The Best and other favourites.
It was disgraceful how long Brother Beaton took to confirm the penalty. Even he couldn’t come up with a reason to disallow it. He also ignored numerous fouls by Soapy Souttar that merited yellow cards which would have led to red.
Anyone else think Butland was completely off his line when Hatate struck the ball?
Bet if that stayed out it wouldn’t have been a retake.
My favourite was the new superstar left back holding Yang and being punished for a foul, then launching the ball 50 yards immediately after the decision, the Crown Bar regular lip sinks to CM “didn’t see it”…….oh the irony.
I’ll tell you what this might not be the greatest Celtic team in history and our injuries have been devastating but these lads under MO + SM & Co are fuckin right up for this ……
HH
Hoops fans singing ‘Simply The Best’ was awesome !
Well we are Scotland’s most SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL CLUB !!!