Overview
- Celtic’s 3-2 win at Motherwell, sealed by Kelechi Iheanacho’s VAR-awarded penalty in the 99th minute, pushed the Scottish Premiership to a final-day showdown.
- Hearts beat Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle to stay top, completing an unbeaten home league season and preserving a one-point cushion.
- The permutations are simple as they meet on Saturday at Celtic Park: Hearts take the title with a draw or a win, while Celtic must win to retain the crown.
- The decisive spot-kick followed a quick review of a handball against Sam Nicholson, a call criticized by pundits and by Hearts manager Derek McInnes after referee John Beaton checked the monitor on VAR Andrew Dallas’s advice.
- Hearts are bidding for a first championship since 1960 and the first outside Celtic or Rangers since Aberdeen in 1985, with Scotland’s post-split format setting up this direct, final-day clash; they are also without Marc Leonard and Craig Halkett, both out until 2027 after Achilles surgery.