Rangers icon Kris Boyd rages at 'disgusting' Celtic penalty as Hearts left seething

Rangers icon Kris Boyd was left furious at the controversial last-gasp penalty Celtic were awarded to beat Motherwell 3-2 and set up an epic final day of the Scottish Premiership. The Hoops were handed a 97th-minute penalty that Kelechi Iheanacho scored to secure a crucial three points after Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have handled the ball inside his own area. Referee John Beaton ultimately pointed to the spot after consulting the pitchside VAR monitor.

It sets up a thrilling conclusion to the title race between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday. A draw would have meant Celtic needed to beat Hearts by three goals to win the league. But victory at Fir Park means the defending champions just have to beat the league leaders, by any scoreline, to retain their title and deny Hearts their first crown since 1960. Hearts beat Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle at the same time as the drama at Motherwell and at one point, were set to win the league with a game to spare when Celtic trailed 1-0.

But the Steelmen couldn't hold on to even a point and Hearts manager Derek McInnes, absolutely seething at the decision at Motherwell, said: "It's disgusting. I don't think it's a penalty kick. But we're up against it, we're up against everybody and we'll be ready for Saturday.

"If I'm Motherwell I'm really disappointed with that, having seen it again. I think it's so poor that they've been given that penalty. They've [Celtic have] been very fortunate on that side of it and we have to realise we're up against everything.

While Rangers icon Boyd reacted: "For that to fly off his head at that pace, quite clearly... if it hits your hand it will drop in front of you - it's not going fly off like that. It's three massive calls in the last three games. The penalty kick [Hearts didn't get] at Motherwell on Saturday, the red card against Alistair Johnston Saturday [against Rangers] and that tonight. It is incredible. There will be serious questions asked about it and rightly so.

"His hand's high but if that hits his hand, that is dropping two or three yards in front of him. To go at the pace it has, there's no way it does. In the 97th minute of five minutes added on... Another dubious call has gone in Celtic's favour. If you throw a ball at someone and it hits your hand, it drops a few yards in front of you.

"It's impossible to get that distance off your hand. Nothing will be done about it.There is no way he can look at that and be 100 per cent certain it has hit the hand. We are looking and have seen so many angles [not certain]. I will say it again, it is three massive calls in the last three games. It's absolutely baffling for me. Take nothing away from Iheanacho, it's a fantastic penalty."

Hearts' all-time top goalscorer John Robertson, sat alongside Boyd, added: "I don't know if it has hit his hand, I think it is the head. His hand is up and if it has hit his hand, it is a penalty. I don't think it is a handball, it is his head! It is not clear and obvious. It looks like an error.

"I said at the start, I thought both teams would win. It looked like Hearts had done the business and it was finished at Celtic. It was the last kick of the game and feels like a defeat; it's gut-wrenching. Celtic would've had to win 3-0 to win the title."

But Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, 74, said: "The penalty looked as if it's pretty clear cut. Has he given it for the handball? There was also an elbow on top of that there too."

Gary Lineker sided with Boyd and McInnes, writing on X (formerly Twitter): "This might be the worst VAR decision I've seen (and there's a lot of competition). Extraordinary given the significance."