Goals for and against Russell Martin’s side and the late penalty for the champions at Kilmarnock have been reviewed by the panel

16:49, 19 Sep 2025Updated 16:54, 19 Sep 2025

Lewis Mayo of Kilmarnock handles the ball(Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)

The decision to allow Lawrence Shankland’s firstgoal to stand against Rangers then disallowing the hosts’ equaliser have been deemed incorrect by the KMI panel.

And Celtic‘s last gasp penalty at Kilmarnock has also been marked down as a blunder.

Derek McInnes’ side left Ibrox with all three points thanks to Shankland’s double, although Gers claimed he handled in the build up to his first.

Now the KMI panel has reviewed the incident and declared that ref Steven McLean was wrong not to blow up, while VAR should have then recommended an on-field review and the goal then disallowed.

The notes read: “The panel unanimously agreed that the on-field decision was incorrect. The panel highlighted VAR was incorrect not to intervene to recommend an OFR and the goal should have been disallowed for a handball in the APP.”

Lawrence Shankland’s alleged handball(Image: BBC Scotland)

The panel also decided that the Light Blues’ equaliser through Derek Cornelius should have stood after Thelo Aasgaard was penalised for a foul on debutant Hearts keeper Alexander Schwolow.

“The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the on-field decision of foul on the goalkeeper tobe incorrect. Two panel members felt a VAR intervention should have taken place andthe goal should have stood following an OFR. One panel member felt that the onfielddecision was correct and VAR was correct not to intervene.”

Under fire boss Russell Martin revealed after the game that Mo Diomande protested his innocence after having a late penalty awarded against him for a trip on Harry Milne, which Jack Butland saved only for Shankland to convert the rebound.

Theo Aasgaard fouls Alexander Schwolow

However, the panel backed McLean on that one: “The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the on-field decision of penalty kick being awarded correct. One panel member felt that VAR should have intervened and recommended an OFR for an overturn of the penalty kick.”

Controversy reigned at Rugby Park the following day as Lewis Mayo handled after a James Forrest shot was deflecte donto his arm via a deflection off teammate Robbie Deas.

John Beaton played on before being called to the monitor. He reversed his decision and pointed to the spot, allowing Kelechi Iheanacho to mark his Celtic debut with a dramatic winner.

The majority of the panel backed Beaton’s iniital decision: The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the on-field decision (before VAR intervention) to be correct. Two panel members felt the VAR intervention was incorrect and a penaltykick should not have been awarded for a handball. One panel member felt VAR was correct to intervene and the decision of a penalty kick for handball after review was correct.”