[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-why-celtic-s-99th-minute-penalty-has-sparked-title-fury":61,"news-related-why-celtic-s-99th-minute-penalty-has-sparked-title-fury-en":98,"news-related-match-why-celtic-s-99th-minute-penalty-has-sparked-title-fury-en":195},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":39,"hostCities":40},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",-37,-20,"finished_recent",false,[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],"Atlanta","Boston","Dallas","East Rutherford","Guadalajara","Houston","Kansas City","Los Angeles","Mexico City","Miami","Monterrey","New-York","New York New Jersey","Philadelphia","San-Francisco","San Francisco Bay Area","Seattle","Toronto","Vancouver","Zapopan",{"article":62},{"awayTeamId":63,"awayTeamName":64,"body":65,"category":66,"excerpt":67,"homeTeamId":68,"homeTeamName":69,"id":70,"leagueId":71,"leagueName":72,"matchId":73,"matchName":74,"publishedAt":75,"slug":76,"sourceName":77,"sourceURL":78,"teamId":63,"teamName":64,"teamIds":79,"teamNames":88,"title":97},"326257567011442688","Celtic","The Scottish Premiership title race was sent hurtling toward a final-day climax after a contentious VAR-awarded penalty in the 99th minute gave Celtic a 3-2 victory over Motherwell. With Hearts already cruising past Falkirk 3-0, the league leaders seemed poised to take a three-point cushion into Saturday’s showdown at Celtic Park, only for Kelechi Iheanacho’s spot-kick to snatch a dramatic win that keeps the Hoops’ hopes very much alive.\n\nHearts head coach Derek McInnes did not hide his fury after the match, branding the decision “disgusting” and suggesting his side are battling against all odds. “When you heard Celtic had a 96th-minute penalty going to VAR, you just assume they get it,” McInnes told broadcasters. “We’re up against it, we’re up against everybody. I don’t think it’s a penalty.” His words captured the outrage felt throughout Tynecastle and beyond.\n\nThe incident itself could hardly have been more dramatic. In stoppage time, with the score locked at 2-2, Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson rose to challenge Celtic’s Auston Trusty for a high ball. VAR Andrew Dallas instructed referee John Beaton to review the coming-together for a potential handball. Replays appeared to show the ball ricocheting off Nicholson’s head, with his raised arm making minimal if any contact. Yet Beaton spent barely 20 seconds at the monitor before pointing to the spot, and Iheanacho converted calmly.\n\nSuddenly, the arithmetic shifted. Had Celtic dropped points, Hearts would have needed only to avoid a two-goal defeat at Celtic Park to secure a first league championship since 1960. Now, Derek McInnes’ men must take at least a point from a venue where visiting teams have traditionally found life difficult. A draw would crown them champions; a Celtic victory would see the trophy remain in Glasgow for another year.\n\nThe historical weight of the moment is palpable. Hearts have waited over six decades to reclaim the summit of Scottish football. Not since Alex MacDonald’s Aberdeen side of 1984–85 has a club outside the Old Firm won the title. The prospect of breaking that duopoly has electrified their support, but this late twist means they must now hold their nerve in the most hostile of environments.\n\nCeltic manager Martin O’Neill predictably defended the call. “I have seen it back very briefly… it’s a handball,” he stated. “It looks as if it’s also an elbow to the side of the head. VAR have asked the referee to come over and he had no hesitation in giving the penalty.” His counterpart at Motherwell, Jen Berthel Askou, was left bewildered. “I’m in total shock,” the Dane said. “I thought I had seen it all this year, but apparently I haven’t. Seeing the footage, I can’t see any way that can be a penalty.”\n\nA chorus of pundits and former officials united in condemnation. Gary Lineker called it “the worst VAR decision I’ve seen… extraordinary given the significance.” Former referees Bobby Madden and Steve Conroy both firmly answered “no” when asked if it should have been a penalty, with Conroy arguing the lack of ball deviation proved no handball occurred. Ex-Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart labeled the overturn “extraordinary”, while record goalscorer John Robertson noted the power generated pointed to a header, not an arm. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd highlighted a pattern of decisions favoring Celtic, referencing a missed Hearts penalty call and a red-card let-off in the recent Old Firm derby.\n\nThe handball law does state that an arm raised above shoulder height invites risk. However, the key question remains whether the ball even touched Nicholson’s arm. The replays, far from conclusive, showed the ball flying out of play with the spin and force of a header. For VAR to intervene on such marginal evidence, overriding the on-field call, has left many questioning the protocol. The decision was reached with a speed that contrasted starkly with a recent six-minute VAR review that denied West Ham an equaliser against Arsenal, leading to accusations of inconsistency.\n\nSo the stage is set for one of the most consequential title deciders in modern memory—except this time, it’s not Rangers standing in Celtic’s way. Hearts travel to Glasgow knowing a single point will etch their names into history. Celtic, saved by a stoppage-time lifeline, must win to complete another improbable rescue act. The fallout from this penalty will linger, no matter the outcome on Saturday.\n\nBased on reporting from BBC Sport.","news","A 99th-minute VAR penalty for Celtic at Motherwell keeps the title race alive, sparking fury from Hearts boss McInnes, sending the race to a final-day decider.","326257660145963008","Motherwell","330625090217578497","326135634953506816","Premiership","327053938840834048","Motherwell vs Celtic","2026-05-13T22:56:22Z","why-celtic-s-99th-minute-penalty-has-sparked-title-fury","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc20211evnlvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[63,68,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87],"326222712429088768","326257546153168896","326222711682502656","326257545968619520","326257567044997120","326257660225654784","326255038185869312","326257686389723136",[64,69,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96],"Scotland","West Ham","England","Arsenal","Rangers","Falkirk","Aberdeen","Together","Why Celtic's 99th-Minute Penalty Has Sparked Title Fury",[99,124,144,169],{"awayTeamId":100,"awayTeamName":101,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":102,"homeTeamId":103,"homeTeamName":104,"id":105,"leagueId":71,"leagueName":72,"matchId":106,"matchName":107,"publishedAt":108,"slug":109,"sourceName":77,"sourceURL":110,"teamId":103,"teamName":104,"teamIds":111,"teamNames":117,"title":123},"326257659982385152","Kilmarnock","Craig McLeish appointed St Mirren head coach on a 3-year deal after guiding club to Premiership safety via playoffs, with Stuart Taylor as assistant.","326257660011745280","ST Mirren","338045265229385729","327052562714857472","ST Mirren vs Kilmarnock","2026-06-04T17:50:09Z","mcleish-gets-3-year-st-mirren-contract-after-playoff-escape","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fcjrpejq5d5po?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[103,100,86,112,63,113,114,115,116],"326257804983668736","326222707169431552","326255038584328192","326257565635710976","326257546392244224",[104,101,95,118,64,119,120,121,122],"Partick","Anderlecht","Legia Warszawa","Getafe","Nottingham Forest","McLeish Gets 3-Year St Mirren Contract After Playoff Escape",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":125,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":126,"leagueId":71,"leagueName":72,"matchId":127,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":128,"slug":129,"sourceName":77,"sourceURL":130,"teamId":63,"teamName":64,"teamIds":131,"teamNames":137,"title":143},"Callum Osmand's title-winning cameo for Celtic caps a rise from Jersey's youth ranks to Premiership glory, inspiring the island's next football generation.","337890518706950145","0","2026-06-04T05:22:29Z","how-celtic-s-callum-osmand-is-uplifting-jersey-s-young-stars","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002Fcn0p44d1y7do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[63,132,133,84,134,113,135,136],"326257837204312064","326257546325135360","326257545830207488","326222713142120448","326255039762927616",[64,138,139,93,140,119,141,142],"Jersey Bulls","Brentford","Fulham","Canada","Sheriff Tiraspol","How Celtic's Callum Osmand is Uplifting Jersey's Young Stars",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":145,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":146,"leagueId":71,"leagueName":72,"matchId":127,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":147,"slug":148,"sourceName":77,"sourceURL":149,"teamId":63,"teamName":64,"teamIds":150,"teamNames":159,"title":168},"Celtic weigh O'Neill's trophy double against Keane's European exploits as the board seeks a permanent manager. A swift summer decision looms amid a rebuild.","337369473931546625","2026-06-02T21:04:29Z","celtic-manager-search-what-o-neill-vs-keane-decision-means","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc1w2vxrqjz1o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[63,116,151,152,153,68,154,155,156,157,158],"326257549311479808","326257660192100352","326257567338598400","326257545918287872","326257546094448640","326222712143876096","326257536179113984","326257664185077760",[64,122,160,161,162,69,163,164,165,166,167],"Maccabi Tel Aviv","Dunfermline","Ludogorets","Liverpool","Tottenham","Portugal","Toulouse","Wales","Celtic Manager Search: What O'Neill vs Keane Decision Means",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":170,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":171,"leagueId":71,"leagueName":72,"matchId":127,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":172,"slug":173,"sourceName":174,"sourceURL":175,"teamId":82,"teamName":91,"teamIds":176,"teamNames":185,"title":194},"Ellie Kildunne, World Player of the Year, will leave Harlequins after 2025\u002F26, with 52 tries in 60 matches but no Premiership title. Her next club unknown.","337316690272456705","2026-06-02T18:02:00Z","ellie-kildunne-to-leave-harlequins-end-of-2025-26-season","Sky Sports","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.skysports.com\u002Frugby-union\u002Fnews\u002F12040\u002F13550203\u002Fellie-kildunne-england-star-to-depart-harlequins-at-end-of-season-with-new-club-yet-to-be-confirmed",[82,177,178,179,180,181,182,183,184],"326222712622026752","326222713104371712","326257571990081536","326257808754348032","326222711976103936","326222712110321664","326257545754710016","326257807714160640",[91,186,187,188,189,190,191,192,193],"South Africa","New Zealand","Montpellier","Northampton","Australia","Argentina","Newcastle","Leicester","Ellie Kildunne to Leave Harlequins: End of 2025\u002F26 Season",{"awayScore":196,"awayTeam":197,"description":201,"homeScore":196,"homeTeam":202,"id":73,"kickoffAt":206,"length":207,"leagueId":208,"leagueName":72,"leagueSlug":209,"probabilityLabel":72,"slug":210,"status":211,"tvStations":212,"venueCity":69,"venueName":213},0,{"code":198,"id":63,"imagePath":199,"name":64,"slug":200},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F247.png","celtic","Celtic need a win to keep the title race alive, while Motherwell aim to solidify a European place. A home upset would shake up both ends of the table.",{"code":203,"id":68,"imagePath":204,"name":69,"slug":205},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F256.png","motherwell","2026-05-13T19:00:00Z",90,"326135624853622784","gb-premiership","motherwell-vs-celtic-2026-05-13","scheduled",[],"Fir Park"]