Brendan Rodgers was left fuming after a dramatic late winner was controversially chalked off as Celtic were held to a 2-2 draw against a resilient Hearts side at a thunderous Tynecastle.
The Celtic manager watched in disbelief as Hyunjun Yang's 94th-minute strike was disallowed following a lengthy VAR review, with Tomoki Iwata deemed to have handled the ball in the build-up - a decision that sparked fury among the travelling support.
VAR Drama Mars Tynecastle Thriller
In a match packed with incident and controversy, Celtic appeared to have snatched all three points at the death when Yang fired home from close range. However, after a four-minute VAR check, referee Don Robertson was advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, leading to the goal being overturned.
Rodgers didn't hold back in his post-match assessment, labelling the decision "really, really poor" and questioning the consistency of VAR interventions in Scottish football.
Hearts Fight Back Twice
The hosts showed tremendous character throughout, equalising twice against the Scottish champions. Lawrence Shankland continued his impressive scoring form with Hearts' first equaliser, demonstrating why he's considered one of Scotland's most lethal strikers.
Celtic had taken the lead through a clever finish from Paulo Bernardo in the first half, only for Shankland to pull Hearts level before the break. The pattern repeated in the second half when Adam Idah thought he'd won it for Celtic, only for Hearts to hit back through a Lawrence Shankland penalty.
Rodgers' Fury Over Handball Interpretation
The Celtic boss was particularly incensed by the handball decision that cost his team victory. "The officials, with the monitor, it feels like we're stood out there for an age waiting," Rodgers fumed. "For me, it wasn't a handball. The ball actually comes off his chest onto his arm."
Rodgers' frustration was palpable as he questioned whether the incident met the threshold for VAR intervention, especially given similar situations that haven't been penalised in other matches.
Title Race Implications
The dropped points could prove costly in Celtic's title defence, with rivals Rangers having the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. The dramatic finish at Tynecastle ensures the title race remains fiercely contested as we approach the business end of the season.
Both teams displayed attacking intent throughout, but it was the late VAR drama that will dominate headlines and leave Celtic wondering what might have been had Yang's strike stood.
