It is 15 days since John Beaton awarded Celtic a late penalty against Motherwell and the media is still bleating about it – let it go
THAT penalty is going to haunt the SMSM forever more...
Eric Knott 
MOTHERWELL, SCOTLAND - MAY 13: Motherwell's Sam Nicholson is penalised for a handball under pressure from Auston Trusty and Celtic are awarded a penalty during a William Hill Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic at Fir Park, on May 13, 2026, in Motherwell, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The other day I referred to the old statement that yesterday’s news is today’s chip paper.
In the Scottish Mainstream Sports Media, this is clearly not the case.
It is 15 days since Celtic won 3-2 at Motherwell as a result of late, controversial penalty awarded by John Beaton.
The SMSM just cannot let it go.
They are determined to drive it home that Celtic won the title because of that penalty.
It had nothing to do with the other 37 games we were involved in, and Hearts were robbed of the title because of that penalty.
Before I go any further, I want to make this much clear.
If we had finished that game at 2-2 and this infamous penalty had not been awarded, we would have required no less than a 3-0 win against Hearts at Celtic Park to win the title.
I have no doubt in my mind we would have achieved that, and then some.
It’s important to point out that we did score 3 goals against Hearts the day we wrapped up the title.
However, had we been in a position where it was a necessity, I’m fully confident Celtic would have done that.
Martin O’Neill, quite possibly, would have changed our formation to 3-5-2 quite early on, and just gone for it.
In some ways, that’s the way I wish it had gone down.
While the way we won it was extremely satisfying, to do it that way would have been even better.
What pisses me off about the way the media won’t let go of this, is that they see it as a foregone conclusion that Hearts would have rocked up to Celtic Park if we had drawn at Fir Park, and just sauntered to the title.
You and I know that wouldn’t have happened.
We know that Celtic would still have won it, and won it in style.
But instead, we have to constantly read about that and how it decided the outcome of the title.
Yesterday, Mark Pirie of the Record was at it again.
This time it was Motherwell who weren’t happy with it.
Which is kind of insignificant considering the result didn’t really impact their season.
They still finished 4th and they still qualified for Europe.
But Pirie is just stirring up the same story about the Celtic penalty from a Motherwell angle to keep it relevant.
They just do not want to let this one go.
Apparently – 15 days later from the comfort of his holiday sun longer – I’m sure, ‘Well keeper Callum Ward is still “irked” by the penalty.
The fact he is in a mild state of anger and displeasure is grounds for yet another SMSM story on this subject.
Here is some of what Pirie had to say in his article:
Pundits across the globe discussed the flashpoint as Sam Nicholson was judged to have handled the ball in the final seconds of the clash with the Hoops, with the game level at 2-2.
Andrew Dallas in the VAR room would intervene to flag the incident to whistler Beaton, who awarded the spot-kick.
Kelechi Iheanacho dispatched from 12 yards – but had the game remained level, Celtic would have needed to win by three goals to claim the Scottish title.
In the end, they only needed a victory to become champions as Martin O’Neill’s men managed a 3-1 victory over the Jambos.
Pundits across the globe.
Indeed.
They were even talking about it in Azerbeijan.
Right.
And there’s that “Celtic would have needed to win by 3 clear goals to win the title” line again.
This one is really killing them.
They’re determined to make the whole story of last season about that penalty.
Pirie then goes on about the KMI panel’s 2 to 1 verdict that the officials got the big call wrong.
2 to 1.
Three retired referees giving their opinion.
I mean, of course 2 of them were going to say it shouldn’t have been awarded.
It keeps it relevant and it keeps it controversial, and most importantly of all, it keeps the spotlight on Celtic.
It allows people to keep up the “Celtic cheated” narrative.
Or the “Celtic have the referees in their pockets” narrative.
It still makes me laugh at the idea that John Beaton would want to favour Celtic in any way.
I could go in to Callum Ward’s comments in Pirie’s article, but I couldn’t be bothered.
They don’t tell us anything we haven’t already heard.
But what this article does tell us is that they just cannot, and will not, let this penalty go.
I guarantee you we will still be reading about it long after next season has kicked off.
In fact, the second we’re awarded a penalty in the next campaign, it’ll be the first thing mentioned.
This penalty has broken them.
And I can’t deny that I’m in revelling in their pain.
Long may it continue…
Key Takeaways
- Scottish Mainstream Sports Media continues to argue that Celtic’s title was only won due to a controversial penalty.
- The article highlights that Celtic would have still won the title regardless of that penalty’s award.
- Journalists, like Mark Pirie, persist in discussing this penalty to maintain controversy and relevance.
- They suggest that the outcome of the title relied on that moment, despite evidence to the contrary.
- The author expresses frustration over the media’s obsession with the penalty and revels in their discontent.
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Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Bhoycie 
Both yours and James Forrest`s articles today are asking the Scottish Media to “let it go”. I say, NO, don`t let it go. Don`t be running away like cowards: take them on. This all brings me back to my early days at secondary school. My big pal, God now rest him, and I were lying on the grass enjoying the sun when the school bully and his cohorts arrived on the scene and taunted us (the new kids from a country school) , They wanted a fight, so my big pal rose to accommodate them. No, it wasn`t him they wanted but the “wee yin” still on the ground.
Unfortunately, owing to a lack of due diligence on their part, the “wee yin” was only too happy to oblige.
Without going into too much detail, it is suffice to say that it was the first time in my life that I knew that
the skin off someone`s top lip curls up like an onion skin when left-hooked. I fought later as a southpaw, by the way.
The reason I bring this up is because you and Forrest seem afraid of the bullies. DO NOT let them off the hook. Accommodate them. Trap them. Don`t let them go. Don`t keep showing the picture of Trusty and the
hand-ball. Show them the elbow in the face. Every single day, show the two hundred and fifty kilo of human
flesh hovering above Daezen Maeda in the penalty box and describe it as the worst aerial bombardment on a
Japanese citizen since Hiroshima.
There`s no use forever lamenting and hoping they go away. NO, let them hope that you go away.
Just as pro-abortionists would run a mile if you asked them what their preferred form of annihilating an unborn baby is, let them be desperate to run the same mile. If they look like easing off: then start it all up again until they would think twice before starting another bigoted campaign.
So you force a rape victim to have a rapist or peados child?
There was nothing ‘controversial’ about the penalty against Motherwell,it was a stonewaller.
The controversy was manufactured by those who hate Celtic.