In a potentially pivotal moment in the Scottish Premiership title race, referee John Beaton was called to the pitchside monitor by video assistant referee Andrew Dallas after Motherwell winger Sam Nicholson challenged for a high ball.

Replays suggested the ball hit Nicholson’s head, rather than his raised hand, but Beaton awarded a spot-kick which Kelechi Iheanacho converted in the ninth minute of added time to snatch a 3-2 success for Martin O’Neill’s side.

Had Celtic drawn on Wednesday evening at Fir Park, league leaders Hearts could have afforded to lose by two goals when the sides meet on Saturday and still be crowned champions for the first time since 1960.

Instead, Derek McInnes’ men must now avoid defeat at Celtic Park on the final day of the campaign to become the first club other than Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish top-flight title in 41 years.

Lineker posted on X: “This might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen (and there’s a lot of competition). Extraordinary given the significance.”

Hearts head coach McInnes branded the penalty award “disgusting” and said “it feels like us against everybody”.

His side cruised to a 3-0 victory at home to Falkirk on Wednesday but there was a mild sense of deflation around Tynecastle at full-time as news of Celtic’s lifeline filtered through.

“I shouldn’t be commenting on another game, but having seen that, it feels like us against everybody,” said McInnes, who was aggrieved that his side were not awarded a penalty in their 1-1 draw at Motherwell on Saturday.

“When you see the two that we didn’t get at the weekend and then you see that, how can they arrive at that situation? Celtic have had more than a touch of fortune getting that penalty.

“I’m getting more and more dismayed at some of the decisions that our referees are coming up with. It’s such a bad decision.

“I thought I was missing something when I was watching it. I had to ask, ‘what am I looking for here?’. It’s actually quite disgusting, to be honest.”