Ryan Stevenson did not hide his rage following the controversial penalty decision that helped Celtic secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over Motherwell at Fir Park.
Much of the post-match discussion centred around VAR’s intervention late in stoppage time, with referee John Beaton awarding Celtic a decisive spot-kick after reviewing a handball involving Sam Nicholson.
The incident ultimately swung the title race back in Celtic’s favour just as Hearts looked poised to seize control heading into the final day.
Stevenson – who was covering the match for BBC Sportsound – reacted angrily to the call and questioned both the outcome and the speed of the review process.
“We were just about to go and nick it, Tom,” he said immediately after full-time. “And then it’s ruined…”
The former Hearts striker compared the incident to other lengthy VAR checks and argued the officials had failed to properly appreciate the significance of the moment.
“But to understand how big a decision that is, the severity of the decision… and I think… what did he take? Was it five or six minutes to make that decision?” Stevenson continued.
“Because everyone understood how big a decision that was. He was at the camera for… 20 seconds? Ugh… no chance.”
Stevenson also rejected suggestions his reaction was influenced purely by his Hearts connections, insisting he believed the award itself was incorrect regardless of the title implications.
“I’m going to try and say, because people think that I’m speaking from a Hearts perspective because of the way it’s unfolding. And the sort of anger…” he added.
“I’m genuinely saying it from a neutral position: that is absolute garbage. The game… that is not a penalty, come on.”
The result leaves Hearts with little margin for error heading into the final day of the campaign, with Celtic now knowing victory at Parkhead will be enough to retain the Scottish Premiership title.
Conor Spence
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2 Comments
The most obvious penalty we have seen all season ..there is no debate it’s very clear…maybe there has to be a rule change that is specific to Celtic… That in any given similar incidents the offendin.g player must use 2 hands…their outcry is repugnant.
Hearts have foolishly celebrated winning this title 4 times since the split …time for them to try and do it for real
Since when has a whole match been confined to the last 30 seconds?
In an overall match, where both teams had there periods of being on top.
Still believe that we deserved to just edge it, on having the better and more goal scoring opportunities, over the entire contest imo?
Didn’t think we played anywhere near our own capabilities, yet again, which was highlighted by to many of our players, not having a great night within there own
individual contributions?
But this is a feature of our current team, especially away from Celtic park. Also it wasn’t expected for ourselves to dominant the match, especially when the effects of the Glasgow Derby, were still on show from a number of our players also imo?
So recovery, especially with the emotional element of last night, could be crucial for ourselves on Saturday?
Hence where our supporters are carrying our team through crucial periods of this season, and last night was no different.
But where our team, no longer can produce dominance football for long periods within a match, it certainly doesn’t lack character and desire within it, all the same. The quality factor has been questionable all season, but as a team playing on moments, just enough is getting produced to gain winning results.
Last night was another case within the growing list of this season
Always liked our mentality of never knowing when we are a beaten side, especially as it’s not within our DNA.
Course that has been tested moreso this season, than many beforehand, despite ourselves being a shadow of recent Celtic teams imo?
Says far more about everyone else within Scottish football, where we can admit to being nowhere near our best this season, and yet everyone else still struggling to take advantage of the circumstances created by our own making?
The desperation for ourselves to be knocked off our perch, is potentially at a degree that most of us, hasn’t experienced before. I certainly can’t recall anything like this before for ourselves to overcome, but we are still able to hang on in there, with a great chance of actually delivering another successful season?
Quite amazing really, but won’t be getting any credit for it all the same, especially if we deliver the likes, as usual also imo?
But that’s Scottish football as it remains