Hearts boss Derek McInnes described the decision to award William Hill Premiership title rivals Celtic a stoppage-time penalty in their win at Motherwell as “disgusting”.
While leaders Hearts were beating Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle, Celtic were awarded a contentious spot-kick deep in time added on at Fir Park, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to snatch his side a 3-2 win.
McInnes’ side lead Celtic by a solitary point in the table with a better goal difference and will face the Hoops in a final-day title decider in Glasgow on Saturday.
Hearts will be crowned Scottish champions for the first time in 66 years if they avoid defeat at Celtic Park, but McInnes was furious over the penalty decision.
He told Sky Sports: “Everybody was just interested in the (Celtic) score. So when you hear Celtic get a 96th-minute penalty (VAR decision), you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.
“And having seen it again, I think it’s disgusting, I don’t think it’s a penalty kick.
“But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody and we’ll be ready for Saturday.
“I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. If I’m Motherwell, I’m really disappointed with that.
Hearts players look at a phone after the final whistle (Andrew Milligan/PA) (Andrew Milligan)
“I’ve seen it (the replay) before I came out to speak to you and I think it’s so poor that they’ve been given that penalty. And it looks as if they’ve been ‘given’ it.
“I think they’ve been very fortunate, very fortunate on that side. And we have to realise we’re up against everything.”
Two goals in five first-half minutes put Hearts in control against Falkirk, with Frankie Kent heading them into a 29th-minute lead and Cameron Devlin firing home from inside the penalty area.
Blair Spittal curled home Hearts’ third in the closing stages, soon after news of Motherwell’s late equaliser against Celtic had filtered through the stands.
