Hearts boss Derek McInnes brands Celtic's late penalty 'disgusting' after title day drama

Hearts manager Derek McInnes has condemned a late penalty that gave Celtic a last-gasp winner, calling the referee's decision "disgusting" as the Scottish Premiership title race went down to the final day.

Why it matters

The award of a decisive penalty at the death that determines the destination of the title is a flashpoint in domestic football. McInnes's public criticism adds fuel to debate about officiating standards and late-match decisions in a season-concluding context.

McInnes reaction and context

According to Sky Sports, McInnes used the word "disgusting" to describe the penalty that handed Celtic the victory. The report frames the decision as controversial and significant because it directly affected the outcome of the Scottish Premiership title on the final day of the campaign.

What we know from the report

• Sky Sports reports Hearts boss Derek McInnes described the penalty as "disgusting".
• The penalty was awarded late in the match and produced Celtic's winner.
• The decision is framed as decisive for the Scottish Premiership title, which went to the final day.

The Sky Sports item highlights McInnes's strong language but does not supply fuller details in the provided metadata about the exact match scoreline, the nature of the challenge that led to the penalty, or any response from Celtic, referees, or the Scottish Professional Football League. Those specifics should be confirmed from the full match report, referee report, and post-match comments before wider publication.

Competition and club implications

Because the Sky Sports summary places the incident at the climax of the Scottish Premiership season — with the title race decided on the final day — the penalty has immediate competition-level significance. McInnes's public condemnation could prompt further scrutiny over officiating in decisive fixtures and feed into calls for clarity around late decisions.

At present, details such as any official protests, VAR involvement, or subsequent disciplinary action are not included in the supplied source metadata and require verification.

What happens next

Further reporting should confirm the precise match details, provide extended quotes from McInnes, include any response from Celtic and match officials, and note whether the Scottish authorities will review the decision. Until those facts are obtained, this piece flags the key reaction but is marked for review.