Celtic title win over Hearts branded as ‘brutal’ as ex-Man Utd man blasts VAR decision ‘stupidity’
Celtic title win labelled as ‘brutal’ by ex-Manchester United man.
Celtic’s last-gasp 3-1 victory over Hearts which secured a a fifth straight Scottish Premiership crown has been hailed as a “brutal” showcase of football’s unforgiving highs and lows.
Late strikes from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand saw the title swing in the favour of the reigning champions on the final day after an Arne Engels penalty had cancelled out Lawrence Shankland’s opener just before half-time. It meant Derek McInnes’ Hearts were pipped to the post in the dying embers of the Scottish Premiership’s final day, despite leading the table for the bulk of the season.
Discussing the thrilling end to the Scottish Premiership title race on The Overlap, Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Roy Keane dug into all the talking points from a dramatic final week in the Scottish league campaign, with Keane, who ended his playing career with Celtic in 2006, hailing his former club’s winning mentality.
”On Saturday I watched my first Scottish football match for a long time,” said host Neville. “I know we've got some people who have got a Celtic bias in this room [Keane], but I felt so sorry for Hearts. Oh, I just thought, do you know something? I mean, obviously Celtic, well done to them. They've won the trophy. Martin O’Neill, who's been on the show, incredible achievement and well done, but I felt so sorry for Hearts. I stuck with it but it was so cruel.
“Hearts were excellent,” responded Keane. “But this is top level sport. It's brutal. It's a reminder to everybody, you're trying to win stuff, - win stuff, win, not assists or corners - you have got to win stuff. It's brutal but that's why we love it [football]. I love watching top level sport. It’s cruel but it’s why we love it.”
The former Republic of Ireland icon also defended the controversial VAR decision, which was awarded in the final minute of Celtic’s 3-2 win over Motherwell when Sam Nicholson was adjudged to have handled in the area at Fir Park last Wednesday. The penalty, which was tucked away by Kelechi Iheanacho in the ninth minute of injury time, kept Celtic within a point of league leaders Hearts going into the final day, and proved significant in the end with the Hoops beating the Jambos to seal the title.
On the final day of the campaign, Hearts’ Alexandros Kyziridis also saw a penalty given against him after he was struck in the arm by a Kieran Tierney cross at Celtic Park, which allowed Engels to equalise, leading to debate between the guests on what constitutes handball, and the influence of VAR on games.
“Why as a player, you've got to the last minute, would you put your hand up there to head it?” said Keane of the Nicolson decision. “I think the stupidity of players, Celtic, you're on about handball, players jumping up with their arms, don't give them a chance. It’s almost a lack of intelligence from players.”
The Scottish Football Social Club is presented by BetSBK.com | 18+ | Gamble Responsibly
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.