Kilmarnock Manager Challenges Late Celtic Penalty After VAR Review

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell expressed frustration and demanded clarification following a controversial last-minute penalty awarded to Celtic after a ball deflected off a Kilmarnock player's foot then struck Lewis Mayo's arm. The penalty, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to secure a 2-1 win for Celtic, was upheld by VAR due to Mayo's arm being in an unnatural position, despite Kettlewell's understanding from a pre-season SFA meeting that such close-range ricochets would not result in penalties if the ball was not heading into the goal. Kettlewell acknowledged the SFA's explanation but emphasized the need for consistent decision-making and clarity on handball rules, as the incident sets a precedent for future matches. He criticized the conflicting interpretations he received, noting that the ball was not going into the net and the handball occurred within a very short distance between defenders. Despite his anger at the decision, Kettlewell praised his players' performance and vowed to seek direct answers from the referees' chief to resolve the confusion surrounding these rulings. The incident has sparked debate about the application of handball rules in the Scottish game and the importance of uniform enforcement to avoid similar controversies.