EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 13: Hearts Head Coach Derek McInnes (R) and Referee Nick Walsh at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Falkirk at Tynecastle Park, on May 13, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Derek McInnes has described the decision to award Celtic a stoppage time penalty at Motherwell as disgusting.
The Hearts boss was speaking after his own side had beaten Falkirk 3-0 to lead Celtic by a point going into the final SPFL Premiership match.
On Saturday McInnes takes Hearts to Celtic Park needing a draw to become SPFL champions.
Had the Celtic match finished at 2-2 the hoops would have needed a three goal victory to become champions.
Now any type of win will give Celtic the SPFL Premiership title for the fifth year running.
The tension and mind games are well underway with McInnes appearing to be overly concerned by events away from Tynecastle.
Clear penalty. Hand up, ball hits his hand, elbow into Trusty’s head, and there was a push on Trusty too. pic.twitter.com/weon0Cn2ej
— Campbeltown Tim (@Campbeltown1888) May 13, 2026
When you heard Celtic got a 96th minute penalty that was going to VAR and they were checking it, you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.
Having seen it again, it’s disgusting. It is. I don’t think it’s a penalty kick but we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody. We’ll be ready for Saturday.
Those comments from McInnes won’t have escaped Martin O’Neill.
The Celtic boss didn’t comment on the Hearts result last night, he has enough to do looking after his own side.
DEREK MCINNES FEELING THE PRESSURE AND STRAIN
It isn’t quite at Alex Ferguson v Kevin Keegan levels but in 2026 the less experienced manager has let his concerns surface.
The timing was dramatic but there really wasn’t anything disgusting or controversial about the stoppage time penalty at Motherwell.
Celtic had a decent penalty claim in the first half when Daizen Maeda was wiped out by Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward.
Today’s media will be full of claims and counter claims about the events at Fir Park.
The bottom line is that Kelechi Iheanacho showed incredible nerve to step up and tuck the penalty away after a four minute delay.
Both managers will hold media conferences on Friday before Saturday’s 12.30 showdown.
It will be a unique occasion that could go either way. The ups and downs of the previous 37 weeks will be put aside with the SPFL trophy decided over one match.
The SFA has still to announce the match officials for the Celtic v Hearts match on Saturday.
What was truly disgusting was the full hour platform SKY gave the bigots to vent their spleens against Celtic rehashed and rehashed with boyd flashing his turkey teeth , one and all even hartly looking like a jakey jam sandwiched between the tarts , the huns could not win it and would go all out to attack Celtic with the mob mentality to make the bunion bears proud , they all loaded on and SKY gave them all the opportunity , it was like groundhog day , SKY , it’s presenter and it’s choice of panel are pizz poor , very poor , and no friends to Celtic or those who support Celtic , I hope their Irish customers in particular take notice and cancel any dealings with them , the cnuts !!!
Absolutely right!
The Bigot that is Boyd is an embarrassment to every viewer and how bad is the completely impartial Eilidh Barbour ( who’s married to former Sevco player?)
She lets Bigot Boyd rant and rage is a vehement monologue, never once correcting him or interrupting him. Was disappointed in Hartley for not at least trying to be measured. It’s absolutely Amateur Hour, all geared round the lowest common denominator, the hateful Neanderthal Bigot Boyd.
Editor: Barbour isn’t married to a former Sevco player, her current partner is Marvin Bartley.
Joe i bet that disgusting bitter bigot was singing the Billy boys in his sleep last night….wipe your eyes Derek
It’s been said elsewhere, but it bears repeating, the joy of last night’s win is only enhanced by McInnes’s rant. If he had any self-awareness he’d shut up. Roll on Saturday and more hun tears.
Don’t tell me sky didn’t have access to a still picture of the penalty incident but let them ramble on like it was a lodge meeting?
They are dangerously trying to influence Robertson (ref) and Clancy (VAR) for Saturday…
Robertson’s problem is he’s too lienient to thuggery which McInnes and his henchmen will exploit to the full !
There is one person that could settle all this in one sentence.
The player himself.
Instead if allowing all this ranting and racing, and refs getting pelters, he could quite simply state the ball hit his hand.
End of story.
But unfortunately, the same players who will happily berate refs for making mistakes don’t have the minerals the help them out when needed.
He knows it struck his hand, he knows it was a penalty, so just come out and say it, his teammates will already know as will his manager, that’s the disgusting part of it all.
And then let Boyd & co eat humble pie…after all, he likes pie.