Celtic’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday was marred by controversy, both on and off the pitch. The Celtic fan protest, where supporters staged a 12-minute boycott, made headlines as fans expressed their discontent with the club’s board. Additionally, the game’s outcome was decided by a late penalty awarded to Celtic after a VAR intervention, which Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell vehemently disagreed with ¹ ².
The Penalty Controversy
- Former FIFA Referee Weighs In: Mark Clattenburg, a former FIFA referee, called the penalty decision “poor,” stating that the ball struck Lewis Mayo’s arm close to his body, not making his body unnaturally bigger. Clattenburg also highlighted the inconsistency in applying handball laws.
- VAR’s Role: The VAR intervened in the 96th minute, instructing referee John Beaton to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Beaton subsequently awarded the penalty, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to seal the win for Celtic.
- Kettlewell’s Frustration: Kilmarnock’s manager expressed his disappointment, citing a pre-season meeting where officials allegedly stated that such incidents wouldn’t be considered penalties. Kettlewell questioned the consistency of the rules and demanded clarification ³ ⁴.
Match Highlights
- Daizen Maeda’s Goal: Celtic took the lead when Daizen Maeda scored a close-range header from Marcelo Saracchi’s pinpoint cross.
- David Watson’s Equalizer: Kilmarnock leveled the score when David Watson headed home Greg Kiltie’s corner in the 83rd minute.
- Iheanacho’s Debut: Kelechi Iheanacho made a dream debut, scoring the winning penalty in stoppage time. Iheanacho’s composure secured a vital win for Celtic, returning them to the top of the Scottish Premiership ¹ ⁵.
