Neil Lennon believes fresh evidence has settled the controversy surrounding Celtic’s late penalty decision and insists the call was ultimately the right one.
The former Hoops boss admitted there was uncertainty immediately after the incident, with television replays failing to clearly determine whether Motherwell midfielder Sam Nicholson handled the ball while attempting a headed clearance.
However, Lennon says a still image circulating on Thursday morning leaves little room for debate.
Dunfermline boss, and former Celtic manager Neil Lennon weighs in on the controversial last-minute penalty that means the Scottish Premiership race will now go right down to the wire.#bbcfootball #celtic pic.twitter.com/lrgpYlMm9z
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) May 14, 2026
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Lennon said: “It was inconclusive last night, really, when you see the clips from TV. But there’s a photograph doing the rounds this morning that looks pretty conclusive that it was a handball.
“He didn’t take long to make the decision. He was there for about 20 seconds. I’m not a lover of VAR. I’m not a lover of the handball rule.
“There was so much drama and tension surrounding the game last night. You could feel it in the stands and on the pitch.”
Attention now turns to Saturday’s title showdown, with Hearts requiring only a draw to secure the league title.
But Lennon believes the atmosphere inside Celtic Park could prove decisive and expects Celtic to carry their momentum into the encounter.
He said: “I’ve played at Celtic Park at 60,000 at fever pitch. Yeah, it raises your game 10, 15, 20 percent. I think it’s going to be so difficult for Hearts to come and get a result. I think all the momentum and everything is in Celtic’s favour now.”
Conor Spence
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