The former Parkhead midfielder has offered a defence of the big refereeing calls in the final week of the Premiership season
09:02, 20 May 2026
Roy Keane
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Roy Keane
Baffled Roy Keane has ripped apart criticism of refereeing during Celtic's final push towards the Premiership title.
Martin O'Neill steered the Hoops to glory with a 3-1 victory at Celtic Park over Hearts on the final day of the season which saw the Glasgow giants overtake the Jambos in a blockbuster season finale.
But in the closing week of the season, the standard of officiating in Scotland was put under the microscope after a controversial flashpoint as Celtic faced Motherwell.
Steelmen star Sam Nicholson was judged to have handled the ball in the final seconds of the clash with the Hoops, with the game level at 2-2.
Andrew Dallas in the VAR room intervened to flag the incident to referee John Beaton, who awarded the spot-kick. Kelechi Iheanacho dispatched from 12 yards.
Motherwell's Sam Nicholson fouls Celtic's Auston Trusty (left) in the box resulting in a penalty being awarded
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Motherwell's Sam Nicholson fouls Celtic's Auston Trusty (left) in the box resulting in a penalty being awarded(Image: Robert Perry/PA Wire)
Had the game remained level, Celtic would have needed to win by three goals to claim the Scottish title on the final day of the season.
Interjecting in a chat about VAR between Manchester United hero Gary Neville and Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Keane threw in the controversial call at Fir Park.
He said: "You're right about stupidity of the players, you go back to the Arsenal one last week. I think the stupidity of players, Celtic, you're on about handball, players jumping up with their arms, don't give them a chance. It’s almost a lack of intelligence from players.”
Wright then offered a defence of Hearts star Alexandros Kyziridis - who handled Kieran Tierney's cross before Arne Engels levelled the game at Celtic Park: “Did you see the Celtic one?”
Keane said: “That's what I'm talking about, yeah. The one from during the week?”
Wright: “No, I'm talking about the weekend, at the weekend against Hearts. He's blasted at it.
"His body is, when you're going to... Roy, your arm naturally when you go to like that, your arm does that. I'm thinking they've got to start taking these things into consideration.
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Alexandros Kyziridis of Hearts handles the ball in the box and gives away a penalty kick
"It's like even the Celtic one in the week where it's come up [against Motherwell]. How can a ball go that far if it doesn't...”
Keane - who played for Celtic for a six month spell in the 2025/26 season - was unmoved, questioned Nicholson's action again: "Of course, but why as a player, you've got to the last minute. Why would you put your hand up there to head it?”
The Irishman admitted he had sympathy for Hearts - but felt the heartbreak was simply a consequence of "top level sport".
He rounded off: “What we love - truthfully, Hearts were excellent - but top level sport. It's brutal.
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"It's a reminder to everybody, you're trying to win stuff, win stuff, win, not assists or corners, you got to win stuff. It's brutal but that's why we love it.
"I love watching top level sport. It’s cruel but it’s why we love it.”