Hearts penalty claim vs Kilmarnock assessed as previous John Beaton incident provides ultimate outcome
A penalty incident arose at the end of the game between Hearts and Kilmarnock.
A Hearts penalty verdict has been cast after the Jambos dropped points at home to Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
Derek McInnes’ team drew 1-1 with the Rugby Park club at Tynecastle on Wednesday night, Lawrence Shankland’s second half goal cancelled out by a Bruce Anderson effort on 90 minutes. It means Celtic are now level with the league leaders and have a game in hand, ahead of Sunday’s huge showdown between the pair at Parkhead.
Hearts appealed for a stoppage-time penalty as claims were made of the ball striking the arm of Kilmarnock defender Dom Thompson. A VAR review disagreed and play continued, with Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell insisting a previous match with John Beaton involving his side this season set a precedent.
Why did Hearts not get a penalty vs Kilmarnock?
Killie defender Lewis Mayo was penalised for handball by Beaton in a clash with Celtic after a VAR review and Kelechi Iheanacho scored from the spot to secure a 2-1 win in second half stoppage time. Head of referees Willie Collum said afterwards ‘if it's such close proximity and it's deflected, even if the arm's in this position, then we don't punish it.’ Kettlewell referenced the incident as he assessed the game and penalty debate.
He said when asked if the Thompson moment handed him concerns: “Not really. I think I looked to the bench and Fraser Stewart, our goalkeeping coach, immediately had said to me that it's his head and then it looks as if it's come off a part of his arm.
“We had an incident against Celtic earlier in the season that you remember when John was the referee and we were told after that that those wouldn't be given as penalties. So I think very quickly he's seen that it was off the head first and whether it's come off his arm. But as I say, there was clear information to us all. I was rather disgruntled with the decision against Celtic. So I think we know moving forward that's not going to be given.”
Hearts on possible penalty vs Kilmarnock
On the game, Kettlewell said: “It's a really positive ending for us. It's a positive result. I think we were disappointed with the point on Saturday against Dundee United, but of course that's always sometimes how that comes about. Scoring in the 90th minute, it's massive for us, really good goal. Great striker instincts, but I felt we deserved to be in the game and be about it at that point.”
McInnes had said post-match: “I also thought we should have a penalty at the end. I don't know. The angle I've seen is a bit inconclusive, so I don't know. But you see Lewis Mayo's reaction, who's standing next to him. He puts his head in his hands, and the boy's a bit sheepish.
“The only angle I think you can probably see of whether it is a clear run down his arm is from behind the goal, and we don't have that at this moment. But I thought we should have had a potential penalty there.