Dermot Gallagher believes Celtic were fortunate to be awarded a late stoppage-time penalty against Kilmarnock on Sunday. Cynics in the Celtic support will no doubt be saying what else do you expect from Dermot? And they may well be right….
Kelechi Iheanacho scores the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
New Bhoy Kelechi Iheanacho held his nerve to convert the crucial penalty that secured Celtic all three points, though Kilmarnock and the rest of Scottish football have protested the decision after the ball deflected from a Killie teammate onto Lewis Mayo’s arm.
Pundits across every mainstream media outlet seem to have echoed that view, and former English Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has added his take on John Beaton’s call to overturn his original on-field decision.
Benjamin Nygren looks on as James Forrest’s shot is blocked. Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, a weekly show dedicated to scrutinising refereeing decisions, Gallagher said: “I think it’s extremely harsh. I also felt when the referee was sent to the screen he wouldn’t give a penalty, because it comes off his own teammate and rebounds up.
“What they work to is if it comes off a part of your own body, or a teammate, play on. If you watch it does come off his teammate and flies up. His arm is always in that position, he’s there, it’s struck him. So I thought he was extremely unlucky.”
Former Coventry City and Cardiff City player Jay Bothroyd also gave his thoughts on the incident: “That is so harsh,” he said. “I probably would have got a red card for arguing with the referee there because that is so bad.”
“The fact that it has deflected off the player onto his arm there, so close, he’s not put his hand out to try and stop it going in. I think that’s a poor, poor decision.”
John Beaton looks at the monitor at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
No doubt this isn’t the last we will have to hear about the incident but as a Scottish FA explanation clarified:
“The penalty [was]awarded for handball by the Kilmarnock defender whose arm was in an unnatural position. Deflection does not always negate a handball offence. He doesn’t know where the ball is going, and his arm is up in an unnatural position to block a shot.”
Open and shut case. Beaton eventually made the right call, and a penalty was rightfully awarded. As Willie Collum pointed out in the most recent VAR Review Show, close proximity is not a get out for not giving handballs in the penalty box. Nor is a ball deflecting off your own teammate onto your arm when it is in a completely unnatural position. It’s on Sky Sports, perhaps Dermot should watch his own channel’s programme.
Conor Spence
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