MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND - MAY 13: Referee John Beaton with Celtic's Auston Trusty before awarding Celtic a late penalty following a VAR check during a William Hill Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park, on May 13, 2026, in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Chris Sutton was quick to correct Gary Lineker over Celtic’s late, late penalty at Motherwell.
With Manchester City playing at the same time it was surprising that the former Match of the Day host showed interest in events at Fir Park.
With Hearts cruising to a 3-0 victory at home to Falkirk at the same time the pressure was all on Martin O’Neill’s side.
Most clubs in that situation would be dead and buried at conceding an 85th minute but Celtic are a bit different. Especially this season.
In the fifth and final minute of stoppage time Celtic had a throw-in which was sent in towards Auston Trusty.
Sam Nicholson raised his arm as he jumped into Trusty, the defender fell to the ground injured but didn’t want treatment as Celtic chased an equaliser with another throw-in.
As Beaton checked Trusty for a head injury some checks were going on in the VAR room where Andrew Dallas was in charge.
Play was halted. A message went up inside the stadium for the VAR check before referee John Beaton was called over pitchside.
Television viewers were as confused as those in the stadium. Was the check for handball or a head knock to Trusty?
Beaton took his time, turned round and pointed to the penalty spot.
It’s what VAR is there for… https://t.co/QpIhEjnPGT
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) May 13, 2026
LINEKER TAKES A RARE LOOK INTO SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Sky Sports only seemed to have one angle on the incident.
Whether Lineker was watching the match isn’t known, possibly he saw the incident trending on X/Twitter.
Former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up to take the penalty, popping it inside the post as the Motherwell keeper dived the other way.
The points mean that Celtic have to beat Hearts on Saturday to win the SPFL Premiership. Had the match finished 2-2 the hoops would have needed a three goal victory on Sunday to clinch the title.
The Hearts story is romantic, many people in sport naturally align with the underdog.
The Laws of the Game are the Laws. Regardless of teams involved or the stage in the match. There is no allowances given for the significance of the match.
The match officials at Motherwell applied the Laws of the Game, Celtic won the points to set up Saturday’s title decider.
Only a win will do for Celtic, a draw or win for Hearts will see the title go to Tynecastle for the first time in 66 years.
Never seen such anti Celtic analysis on sky sports in my life. This title will be so much sweeter just to get it right up the lot of them. Cmon the Hoops HH.
Correct Boyd kept on about three big calls so a whole season three calls which I think were Called right he is ysing his position to call people cheats after the break he seemed to cool down im sure he was told to by his bosses on the network who coverage was a joke and Lineker well thats sky just getting another punter who is suppose to be nutral you nailed
Well said, the negativity against celtic, coming from all angles, is what’s truly disgusting.
Ah the irony of football, anyone remember the ridiculous Trusty red card at Tynecastle and how all the SMSM screamed that it was the rules until 10 day’s later, an identical incident happened to the embryo club (at 0-2 down) and all of a sudden it was a ludicrous rule…..
HH
Had that penalty not been the winning goal there would be no ranting and raving about a poor decision and some sort of bias by the referees by the blue noses and maroon tinted glasses brigades.
Any team challenging for a title would have gladly taken the decision made by John Beaton( A Rangers supporter) and the VAR team.
From the Hearts point of view this shows a bit of panic setting in. They shouldn’t worry because if they play as well as they have this season they will get the result needed and deservedly win the title.
It was a stone wall penalty. Anyone who says otherwise is a total dobber.
All the scumhuns are gutted because celtic got a last minute pen from VAR MR DALLAS and loyalist john beaton who is a dirty scumhun but i think beaton and dallas will lose alot of friends because they gave celtic a penalty and as for fat baws boyd that guy should never be commenting especially celtic because boyd never got a good word to say about celtic he’s a dirty rat bag and also knows his oldco cheated for years and they deny it never happened shower sad losers and cheats of liebrox ..GARNGAD REPUBLICANS HATES THES HUNS.
When the Bigot Jnr ( Dallas ) recommends a check with VAR, that tells me enough. Let’s do this Celtic and watch the meltdown!!!
I wonder if Boyd, Robertson, McInness and Lineker would be calling the decision Disgusting if the decision was at the other end.
When Hibs got a handball against Celtic last week Boyd says ” trust in var”…. where is your trust now Boyd.. hypocrite
I had the good fortune to be watching it in a pub with a 20 foot projection screen. Judging by all the shouting, everyone who was watching that big screen saw the handball right away.
Only in a country where we are used to the curious addendum to the rules of the game we came to know as “Goldson’s Law” would an obvious handball in the box resulting in the award of a penalty be regarded as ‘controversial’. The fact it deprived Hearts of the title on the night (and maybe at all) makes it a momentous penalty but not a contentious one, unless the context is blinding the viewer to the reality of the situation.
Those two well know Sellick fans Beaton and Dallas must be in hiding at an undisclosed location this morning – no lucrative lodge and boolin’ club circuit appearances for that pair when they hang up the whistles…..
Lineker ..or as big little Englander Mick Channon used to call him -Garee Line – eeker – in his finest West Bristol accent must have a new thing on the go and needs pre publicity badly ? Why would this anti Scot autocue reader be remotely interested in anything about Scottish football ? Why change a habit of a lifetime ? Again as old Channon would say ….ohh aarrrrrr ! Lit’l Emily it be ! Aarrrrr!
Oi its Witshire or Ampshire accent … but the rest of the comment i agree with ?
I’d say it was a stonewaller for an ELBOW assault…
Not too many outside Celtic supporters talking about that I presume !