McInnes Blasts Late Celtic Penalty Decision

A 99th-minute penalty gave Celtic a dramatic winner and left Hearts manager Derek McInnes seething over a decision he branded "disgusting."

McInnes said Hearts felt they were "up against everybody" after the late call swung the match and kept the Scottish Premiership title race alive until the final day on Saturday. His anger framed the aftermath as more than a complaint about one moment; it turned the focus toward pressure, trust in big decisions, and the sense of grievance that can follow a season-defining finish.

"Disgusting," McInnes said of the penalty decision, after insisting Hearts were "up against everybody."

The flashpoint overshadowed much of the football itself. Late penalties always invite scrutiny, but this one carried extra weight because of what sat behind it: a title race that could have ended there and then. Instead, the decision handed Celtic the chance to keep pushing, while Hearts left with frustration and a public rebuke from their manager that will likely echo well beyond this round of fixtures.

For Celtic, the winner preserved hope and injected more tension into the final weekend. For Hearts, the episode sharpened questions about officiating at the biggest moments, even if reports indicate the full debate over the call will continue well after the final whistle. The emotional contrast could not have been clearer — relief and momentum on one side, anger and disbelief on the other.

Now the story moves to Saturday, where the title race reaches its final turn under a cloud of controversy. What happens next matters not only because a championship remains at stake, but because the argument over this penalty could shape how both clubs, and the wider league, talk about pressure and officiating when everything hangs in the balance.