Motherwell 2-3 Celtic: Martin O'Neill delights in title race fight
Martin ONeill was delighted with Celtics fighting spirit in their dramatic victory at Motherwell.
www.skysports.comCeltic secured a stoppage-time penalty winner against Motherwell, prompting strong reactions from Martin O’Neill and widespread debate about the decision and the handball rule. O’Neill defended the penalty and emphasized that referees are applying the current rules, even as opinions differ on whether the contact was clear-cut. The result kept Celtic in the title race heading into the final weekend against Hearts at Celtic Park.[2][3][5]
Key points
- Penalty incident: Handball plus possible elbow led to a late spot-kick for Celtic, decided after a VAR review.[3][5]
- O’Neill’s stance: He supported the decision, noted the rule interpretations can feel harsh in real-time, and argued penalties should be debated in the summer; he also highlighted that Celtic should have had another potential penalty earlier in the match.[2][3]
- Aftermath and context: The win kept Celtic’s title hopes alive and set up a make-or-break final day at Celtic Park against Hearts, with the title effectively on the line.[4][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest direct quotes from BBC/Sky Sports and summarize the exact dispute points for and against the decision, or provide a brief timeline of the match events surrounding the penalty. I can also look for any official statements from Celtic or the PFA on the incident.