In Sunday’s highly anticipated clash between Celtic and Rangers, a controversial late penalty appeal by Celtic was closely examined on Sky Sports Ref Watch. Despite their best efforts, Celtic ultimately fell 3-2 to their rivals, with a crucial goal from Hamza Igamane sealing the victory for Rangers.
As the match reached its climax, a tense moment occurred when Reo Hatate delivered a deep cross into the Rangers’ box. Adam Idah was brought down by Ridvan Yilmaz, but Alistair Johnston’s subsequent shot sailed over the crossbar. The question arose: should Celtic have been awarded a penalty in those final moments?
According to former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher, the answer was no. Explaining his decision on Sky Sports, Gallagher noted that while there was some physical contact, it wasn’t enough to warrant a penalty. Despite the disappointment of the late appeal, Celtic still holds a commanding lead in the Scottish Premiership and remains on track for their fourth consecutive league title, despite recent setbacks against Rangers.
