Sky Sports’ Ref Watch closely examined Celtic’s late penalty claim

The Celtic Star

·19. März 2025

Sky Sports’ Ref Watch closely examined Celtic’s late penalty claim

Sky Sports’ Ref Watch closely examined Celtic’s late penalty claim against theRangers from Sunday’s Glasgow Derby defeat…

Hamza Igamane of theRangers scores his team’s third goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic ultimately fell to a 3-2 loss against their fierce city rivals in Glasgow’s east end with Hamza Igamane’s 88th-minute goal sealing an unlikely victory for the visitors.

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Celtic still had a chance to equaliser in the closing stages

Despite the Moroccan giving the Ibrox club the lead, Brendan Rodgers’ side still had a chance to find an equaliser – and a glaring opportunity came in the dying embers of the encounter.

Indeed, Reo Hatate delivered a lofted cross into Jack Butland’s box, where Adam Idah fell under the slightest bit of pressure from Ridvan Yilmaz, before Alistair Johnston fired his first-time shot wildly over the bar, summarising the Canadian’s abject performance.

Barry Ferguson, Interim Manager of theRangers, celebrates with backroom staff after Mohamed Diomande scored the team’s second goal during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher analysed the incident in detail on Monday morning’s weekly Ref Watch on Sky Sports. Gallagher was asked: “Could and should Celtic have had a penalty in the dying seconds of stoppage-time?”

‘A bit of physical contact’

“No,” he said. “The ball comes in. A bit of physical contact. It goes to Alistair Johnston, who may have well put it into the back of the net on another day, but not a penalty.”

Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, looks on prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic have now suffered consecutive defeats to theRangers, conceding a total of nine goals across their last three encounters with the Ibrox club. Barry Ferguson became the first Ibrox manager since Walter Smith in 1991 to win on his first visit to Celtic Park.

Celtic remain in a comfortable position in the league, 13 points clear

Despite the defeat, Brendan Rodgers’ men still hold a comfortable 13-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership and need just four more victories to clinch their fourth straight league title.

As the dust settles everyone should look at the table. What you’ll see is that we’re at the top of the league looking down on theRangers...

Conor Spence

Henrik Larsson scores for Celtic in Seville. Photo Celtic FC

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