VAR drama has left Celtic fans reeling after a blatant penalty claim for Motherwell was ignored in the Scottish Premiership clash against Rangers.
Social media erupted as supporters shared clips of the referees failing to consult the VAR monitor, a decision that could have altered the outcome of the game, and the title race between Celtic, Hearts and Rangers.
The controversial Motherwell vs Rangers penalty incident
In the second half, Motherwell appeared to have a clear penalty opportunity as a Rangers defender made contact with the attacker inside the box.
Despite protests from the Motherwell players, VAR did not review the play, leaving fans and pundits stunned. X users quickly highlighted the moment, sparking outrage across social media.
No penalty given for Motherwell against Rangers tonight. Didn’t even get sent to the monitor…@Zeshankenzo you’re gonna love this one. pic.twitter.com/WmTWOTdrri
— Everything Motherwell (@AboutMotherwell) February 11, 2026
Reactions from Celtic Fans
Celtic supporters were quick to voice their frustration online. Especially after the Bhoys beat Livingston to turn up the heat on Rangers and Hearts.
Many pointed out the inconsistency of VAR decisions in previous matches, comparing this non-call to other incidents where penalties were awarded after minimal contact.
@James9375491772 was fuming and suggested a rule change, “Managers should be able to ask for a review or players max two challenges, but that would be too simple eh?!”
This was such a strange one, the commentators, even Sutton said the Motherwell player was the one that initiated contact. Unbelievable 😂😂
— Sean (@bible_quotes16) February 12, 2026
And @henke_hoops replied, “Just the 2 fouls anywhere else on the park… nothing to see here.”
Impact on the Scottish Premiership title race between Celtic, Rangers and Hearts
The match result ended in a 1-1 draw between Rangers and Motherwell, but a defeat for the Iborx club would have made the title race more interesting.
Had a penalty been awarded and converted, Celtic would have been level on points with Rangers with the Ibrox club falling six points behind Hearts.
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
26 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 48 | 20 | +28 | 57 |
| 2 |
|
26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 43 | 19 | +24 | 52 |
| 3 |
|
25 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 45 | 24 | +21 | 51 |
| 4 |
|
25 | 11 | 11 | 3 | 38 | 18 | +20 | 44 |
| 5 |
|
26 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 41 | 31 | +10 | 39 |
| 6 |
|
26 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 39 |
| 7 |
|
24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 33 | -7 | 28 |
| 8 |
|
24 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 40 | -10 | 25 |
| 9 |
|
25 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 35 | -14 | 23 |
| 10 |
|
25 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 38 | -18 | 23 |
| 11 |
|
26 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 28 | 51 | -23 | 20 |
| 12 |
|
26 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 26 | 54 | -28 | 11 |
For Celtic fans, seeing such a clear penalty overlooked against Rangers adds another layer of intrigue, fury and tension in the Premiership title race.
Fans are now calling for greater transparency in VAR decisions, hoping that future matches will see more consistent application of the rules.
Whether this incident will prompt change remains to be seen, but Celtic supporters will not hold their breath.
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