Dermot Gallagher and Tim Sherwood agree completely on title-turning Celtic penalty incident

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Credit: Sky Sports News Mon 25 May 2026 10:42, UK Dermot Gallagher and Tim Sherwood have agreed that Celtic’s match-winning penalty against Motherwell earlier this month was wrongfully awarded.Referee John Beaton had not initially awarded a penalty, but VAR sent him to the screen to look at replays of Sam Nicholson’s hand appearing to touch the ball as he went to head it away. Had the scores ended level, Hearts would have just needed to avoid losing by three goals at Celtic Park for the final match, but, needing any type of win, the Hoops won 3-1 and claimed the title.The SFA’s key match incident panel has since voted that Celtic’s penalty at Motherwell should not have been awarded, fuelling controversy. ⚽ Celtic Matchday ⚽ >Team news, line-ups, expert previews and verdicts, and tactical analysis for every Hoops fixture.

VISIT THE CELTIC MATCH HUB MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Dermot Gallagher and Tim Sherwood on Celtic penaltyFormer PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Celtic’s penalty at Motherwell should not have been given, explaining that there is no conclusive evidence that the ball does strike the arm.There was also the argument that the jump of Auston Trusty appeared to knock Nicholson’s hand into the path of the ball.MotherwellMatch statsCeltic48%Possession52%15Shots105Shots on target31.21Expected goals (xG)1.384Corners3Had his arm been up there already, it would be hard to argue that it was in a natural position, but the incident was far from ‘clear and obvious’. “It was such a big, big call that I feel you need to be absolutely certain before you send the referee to the screen, and I couldn’t have felt certain.”"It was such a big call" 🗣️The ref watch panel react to the The Scottish FA's key match incident panel revelation that Celtic should not have been awarded the match-winning penalty at Motherwell ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/rc172xhuXJ— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 25, 2026 View Tweet Sherwood agreed and said: “Never a penalty in my opinion.

I saw it at the time, when they were looking for a penalty, I thought maybe for the elbow across the face.“I feel sorry for the referee. I think there’s far too much pressure on him.”