Chris Sutton has defended the controversial penalty that handed Celtic a dramatic 3-2 victory over Motherwell in the 97th minute, pushing back against claims from Gary Lineker and other pundits who branded it one of VAR's worst decisions. The late spot-kick, awarded for Sam Nicholson's handball, sparked fierce debate across football, with several high-profile voices questioning the integrity of the call on a pivotal weekend in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Referee John Beaton summoned to the monitor after VAR review determined that Nicholson's arm was in an unnatural position while jumping for a header. Kelechi Iheanacho converted the resulting penalty, ensuring Martin O'Neill's side kept their title hopes alive ahead of Saturday's final-day showdown against leaders Hearts. Lineker took to social media immediately after the match, describing the decision as potentially "the worst VAR decision I've seen," while former Rangers striker Kris Boyd questioned the physics of the incident, arguing the ball's trajectory proved it struck Nicholson's head cleanly rather than his hand.
Sutton Counters the Criticism
Sutton, who scored 85 goals during his celebrated Celtic career, dismissed the widespread outcry as over the top and rooted in bias against the Hoops. "The reaction from many high profile people is way over the top," the former striker wrote on social media. "John Beaton was advised to go to the monitor and saw that the ball hit the arm in an unnatural position. Bottom line is people would hate to see Celtic win the title again and that is all." He defended VAR's purpose directly, telling Lineker: "It's what VAR is there for," while also taking a light-hearted dig at Boyd's passionate response.
The incident has reshaped the title race dramatically. Hearts, seeking to become the first club outside the Old Firm to claim the Scottish Premiership since 1985, must now navigate Celtic Park on the final day with the stakes at maximum intensity. Hearts manager Derek McInnes offered a starkly different perspective from Sutton, calling the decision "quite disgusting" and expressing sympathy for Motherwell's position. The contrasting views from senior football figures highlight how the handball rule continues to divide opinion, even among those with decades of elite experience interprecing the game's most critical moments.
