The game was poised at 1-1 when the off-field officials intervened in the Celtic Park showdown
17:35, 14 Mar 2026Updated 18:27, 14 Mar 2026
Celtic player ratings | Man-by-man marks from Celtic vs Motherwell
The BBC have lifted the lid on the discussions between the VAR team and referee John Beaton as Celtic were awarded a penalty against Motherwell.
The game was level a 1-1 when Emmanuel Longelo was involved in a tussle with Daizen Maeda as a corner was floated into the box. The Celtic forward would go to ground, with whistler Beaton initially waving away the incident and awarding the Steelmen a free-kick.
However, Kevin Clancy in the VAR room would intervene. He would advise the man in the middle to go to the pitchside monitor to review the flashpoint.
Beaton would award a spot-kick, which was converted by Tomas Cvancara. Longelo would also be issued a red card for the holding offence at the back post, with the Hoops eventually running out 3-1 winners.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound commentary, former Motherwell man Stephen Craigan said: “I think he ducks down. It’s not the force of Longelo that puts him down, I think he does down himself and tries to head it in.
“It’s a big call. It doesn’t look like a penalty, but stranger things have happened.”
Ex-Hoops’ star Pat Bonner responded: “The problem is when you allow a player on the inside of you, you have got to see that. You have got to use your body and use your strength. Stephen could be right. Did he push him over?”
Liam McLeod offered an insight on the VAR discussion, which is shared with commentators during the game: “Right, I think it is the holding they are looking at. John Beaton is looking at the replays down below us.”
Craigan questioned: “The holding has to really impact his movement. Does it stop him getting off the ground? Players hold all the time, but if it impacts the player it will be a penalty.”
Celtic’s Tomas Cvancara celebrates scoring a penalty to make it 2-1(Image: SNS Group)
Ian McCall said after the final whistle that he felt it was the correct call by the match officials: “We got to see three or four angles of it, but you only really need to see the first one of it.
“Longelo has just wrapped his arms around Maeda from behind him. He was just completely hauled to the ground, and I can’t believe the referee never saw it in real time.”
Peter Grant on Celtic TV added: “That simply has to be a penalty. There’s no way they can’t give that.”
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We’re also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources . Click HERE.