Hearts claimed the VAR decision was incorrect as the SFA issued major rulings involving Celtic and Rangers.

The Scottish FA’s Key Match Incident panel has ruled that Hearts should have been awarded a penalty during their recent Premiership draw against Motherwell, as the governing body released its latest review of controversial decisions involving several major clubs, including Celtic and Rangers.

The incident involving Hearts occurred earlier this month during the 1-1 draw with Motherwell, a result that proved hugely significant in the tightly contested Premiership title race. Hearts manager Derek McInnes was furious at the time after winger Alexandros Kyziridis went down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Motherwell attacker Tawanda Maswanhise.

Replays appeared to show contact on Kyziridis’ foot during the challenge, prompting VAR official Greg Aitken to advise referee Steven McLean to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. Despite examining the footage, McLean chose to stick with his original on-field decision and declined to award a spot kick.

Hearts told they should have been awarded a penalty. (Image: Sky Sports)

However, the SFA’s independent KMI panel has now concluded that the final outcome was incorrect. According to the official review, a majority of panel members believed Hearts should have received a penalty after the referee was sent to the monitor.

The verdict stated: “The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the on-field decision of no penalty to be incorrect. Two panel members felt VAR was correct to intervene, while one panel member felt the on-field decision was correct.

“The majority (2:1) of the panel deemed the final decision outcome as incorrect as they felt the referee should have awarded a penalty after being sent to the monitor.”

The decision will only add to the frustration felt by Hearts supporters and coaching staff, particularly given the importance of every point at this stage of the season. McInnes had strongly criticised several officiating calls in recent weeks, especially amid the dramatic title battle involving Hearts and Celtic.

In the same fixture, another controversial moment involving Motherwell defender Emmanuel Longelo was also examined by the KMI panel. Longelo appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty area during a separate incident, sparking further appeals from Hearts players and supporters.

On this occasion, however, the panel unanimously agreed with the match officials and confirmed that no penalty should have been awarded. The review determined that the referee and VAR team had reached the correct outcome by not penalising the Motherwell player for handball.

Meanwhile, Celtic and Rangers also received clarification regarding one of the major talking points from the recent Old Firm clash at Parkhead.

Alistair Johnston found himself at the centre of heated debate following a strong challenge on Rangers youngster Mikey Moore during the derby encounter.

Referee Nick Walsh showed Johnston a yellow card for the tackle, although numerous pundits, former players and supporters argued that VAR should have upgraded the punishment to a straight red card due to the force and nature of the challenge.

The incident generated widespread discussion in the aftermath of the match, with several television analysts insisting the Canadian international had been fortunate to remain on the pitch. Even Johnston himself later admitted he may have been lucky to escape more severe punishment.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored a controversial penalty for Celtic this week. (Image: Getty Images)

Despite that debate, the KMI panel has now fully backed the officials’ handling of the situation. The SFA confirmed that panel members unanimously agreed with the decision to caution Johnston rather than dismiss him.

According to the findings, the challenge did not meet the threshold for serious foul play, meaning the original yellow-card sanction was considered appropriate. VAR was therefore judged correct not to intervene further or recommend an on-field review for a potential red card.

The latest rulings once again place Scottish football officiating and VAR usage under intense scrutiny following a season filled with controversial moments. Debate surrounding consistency in decision-making has grown louder in recent weeks, particularly amid the dramatic Premiership title race and several high-profile flashpoints involving the league’s biggest clubs.

The Hearts penalty controversy, in particular, is likely to reignite criticism over how VAR interventions are handled in Scotland. Many supporters and pundits have questioned why referees are sometimes sent to monitors only to maintain decisions that later prove controversial.

At the same time, the unanimous backing for Johnston’s yellow card will frustrate some Rangers supporters who believed the tackle warranted a dismissal in such a high-profile fixture.

With tensions already high heading into the closing stages of the season, the latest KMI findings are certain to fuel further discussion around refereeing standards, VAR consistency and accountability within Scottish football.

For Hearts, the ruling effectively confirms that a potentially decisive penalty opportunity was missed during a crucial period of the title race. For Celtic and Rangers, meanwhile, the panel’s conclusions provide final clarity on one of the most fiercely debated moments from the latest Old Firm showdown.