Call me cynical, but why should we take the word of a former Hearts player and Jambos supporter concerning the penalty he conceded in the closing moments of Celtic’s match at Fir Park against Motherwell earlier this month?
Willie Collum confirms Celtic’s penalty agains Motherwell was correctly awarded
Willie Collum yesterday stated on his monthly VAR Review round up what each and everyone of us already knew, that the much magnified decision to award us a last gasp spot kick at Fir Park was absolutely spot on.
Despite being scrutinised by everyone in the land, it was clear as day that the ball hit the hand of Motherwell player Sam Nicholson, and the VAR team led by Andrew Dallas did their job correctly, which in the end proved pivotal in Celtic’s last day title win.
Sam Nicholson maintains he wasn’t guilty of handball on that fateful night at Fir Park.
But he can’t help but ‘feel responsible’ – for Motherwell, Hearts and his 76-year-old dad, a match-going Jambo since the 1956.
Nicholson speaks exclusively to @Graeme_McGarry about the… pic.twitter.com/8HZhZ4L8Tq
— The Terrace (@terracepodcast) May 29, 2026
Bad losers and their Big Cousins still crying ‘conspiracy’
It’s still not enough for some though, as numerous bitter individuals are still crying ‘conspiracy’ over the incident, something that hasn’t been helped any due to a recent claim by the player himself in regard to the incident in question.
Sam Nicholson has spoken publicly for the first time since the flashpoint, and he’s stating very clearly that the ball never touched his hand.
That’s of course his prerogative, and if that’s what he believes then we can only respect his opinion, but anyone blessed with the gift of sight can clearly see the ball hit his hand.
Andy Halliday gave next day feedback on what Nicholson said in Motherwell dressing room – something doesn’t add up
Sam claims that some Celtic players happened to agree he was hard bone by, something we can also take with a massive pinch of salt. Remember that Andy Halliday, a Motherwell teammate of Nicholson’s, a day or two after the incident, stated that Nicholson didn’t actually know if it hit his hand or not.
‘Clearly hits his hand’ pic.twitter.com/GOEv1zcm7T
— Lint (@Zeshankenzo) May 29, 2026
The Scottish mainstream media have of course jumped on the story, highlighting the players words, taking it all as gospel as they continue with the Hearts were ‘cheated’ narrative.
Let’s take a step back and think what Sam Nicholson and the media are asking us to believe in a bid to fuel a hard done by agenda.
Nicholson is of course a lifelong Hearts supporter
Sam is a Motherwell player, but he started his career with Hearts, the club he happened to grow up supporting, and his family all happen to be massive Jambos supporters.
Ex-Hearts player Sam Nicholson has no stake in the game nor reason to lie. Is that right Jonny? If you were branded the guy who cost Hearts the title with a handball surely you’d want to deny it – especially when that blame would follow you everywhere you go from Hearts fans.… https://t.co/ZvMXNxU4ZU
— Andy (@andymuirhd) May 29, 2026
Call me cynical, but should we take the word of a man who is in no way ‘impartial’ to the entire scenario and has if Andy Halliday is to be believed, already changed his story. If he didn’t know in the dressing room immediately after the game then how come he is sure that there was no handball now?
His opinion ultimately doesn’t matter. Andrew Dallas and his VAR colleague identified the possible handball as they looked at the incident, called John Beaton to the screen and as Willie Collum stated last night that only happens if the handball had been established.
That explains why John Beaton didn’t spent too long looking at the screen
That explains why John Beaton didn’t spent to long looking at the screen and instead returned to the field of play to point to the penalty spot.
What we have here is VAR working well with the equipment that is currently available. More camera angles would certainly have helped and it’s worth noting that had Sky Sports initially given this game the billing it deserved by selecting it along with the Hearts v Falkirk game for live broadcasts, then those extra camera angles would have been available.
Sky Sports disrespect for the Scottish game
Instead we got a rush job u-turn, a broadcast output that had no punditry at Fir Park and the returning to Tynecastle for the most disgraceful punditry we’ve ever heard on there – and that’s saying something.
‘Disgusting’ McInnes comments must be dealt with by Compliance Officer
How the Scottish FA’s Compliance Officer has not cited the Hearts manager Derek McInnes for the ‘disgusting’ remark is beyond belief. Perhaps your day will come Derek? All that led to the meltdown frenzy that was re-ignited last night. John Beaton had to have Police protection and have officers escort him to go to his local supermarket, all because Andrew Dallas spotted a handball.
What a post match press conference this is from McInnes, one for the ages given how the season has panned out.
Terrific entertainment 👌 pic.twitter.com/9yjpRuQtdW— Highland__Paddy (@Highland__paddy) May 29, 2026
Look at the Image below and tell me that’s NOT handball
The day after the game the SNS image of the incident is the best proof that Dallas got the call spot on. He and his colleagues, including John Beaton, should be congratulated for their night’s work at Fir Park.
Hearts are nothing but bad losers and what it’s all got to do with their bitter big cousins has never been clear. They dropped out of the title race after losing four games on the bounce post split. Their anger should be directed closer to home at their own bottle merchants.
Here’s the final VAR Review of the season, which we covered in detail last night on Celtic Shorts.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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3 Comments
Time for the comedy show to end.
Celtic won their remaining games and won fair and square.
Hearts played for a draw therefore were responsible for their own failure.
Hearts should make a public apology to Celtic and their fans for their disgusting rhetoric.
It still amazes me, how such a simple straightforward decision, has been given the attention that it has?
The motherwell player led with the elbow, to get above trusty, and catching him in the process. That is why his hand is so high, and the ball hitting it, while making the headed clearance.
If roles were reversed, and scales or trusty himself had made such an attempt within the challenge, I would have been furious with them for doing so?
With VAR in operation these days, you run the risk of such challenges these days, and everyone knows that?
You can still use the elbow and forearm, as leverage in aerial duels. But that wouldn’t lead to the hand being so high, unless you actually did lead with the elbow in the first instance.
So spoilt for choice regarding the penalty decision.
What annoys me about the whole incident, is that such arsewipes of pundits, who actually have meant to have played the game, only know this to well?
Could and would have got away with such challenges before the pre VAR era. But it’s very high risk these days, especially within high profile matches?
So the motherwell player, made a hash of the challenge, in trying to gain an unfair advantage, and paid the price for doing so.
So a mini supporter costing his favourite team dearly is something he better start getting use to, instead of given a platform to spread his bullshit imo?
And the amount of shite hawks hoovering over such a pile of bullshit, remains those of Hun origins, which is no surprise either?
Sweep sweep.
Say nothing.
Omerta.