Celtic secured the Scottish Premiership title on Sunday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle after VAR intervened in the 94th minute to award a decisive goal. Daizen Maeda scored the winner following a review that confirmed he was onside, overturning an initial offside flag. The late drama ended Rangers’ hopes of winning a historic treble, as Celtic now lead the Premiership by 19 points with two games remaining.

The match appeared destined for a draw until referee Nick Walsh took a second look at the footage following a pitchside monitor review. The VAR decision sparked wild celebrations from the Celtic players and fans alike, with supporters streaming onto the pitch in celebration. Hearts had led through a Liam Boyce penalty in the 64th minute, but Celtic equalized in the 81st through Kyogo Furuhashi before Maeda’s dramatic late winner.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou praised his team’s resilience after the narrow victory. “The players showed incredible character to come back and win the game,” Postecoglou said. “VAR played a part today, but the team’s quality and determination were what mattered.” Hearts manager Steven Naismith admitted his side were unfortunate to lose such a tight contest. “We competed well, but the late goal changes everything,” Naismith told reporters.

The result means Celtic will lift the Premiership trophy unless they suffer an unprecedented collapse in their final two matches. The Glasgow side now has a 19-point lead with two games left, making a title reversal impossible even with maximum points. Hearts finish second, while Rangers, who lost their Scottish Cup semifinal earlier in the week, will have to settle for third place in the league.

VAR has once again been thrust into the spotlight following its role in Celtic’s title win. The decision to award the late goal followed a review of Maeda’s positioning in relation to the last defender. Broadcasters and fans debated the call for minutes, but the on-field referee upheld the VAR’s recommendation. The incident raises questions about consistency in VAR decisions across Scottish football.

For Celtic, the victory marks their 53rd league title and their first under Postecoglou, who took over in the summer. The Australian manager has transformed the club’s style of play, emphasizing high pressing and attacking football. Hearts, meanwhile, end the season with a credible second-place finish, their best league position since 2006. The dramatic finish at Tynecastle will be remembered as one of the most contentious title deciders in recent Scottish football history.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Sky Sports
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 14:30 UTC
  • Category: Sports
  • Topics: #sky-sports · #football · #premier-league · #war · #conflict · #celtic

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O Celtic escreveu mais um capítulo de sua história de domínio no futebol escocês ao garantir o título da Premiership com um gol nos acréscimos, após uma reviravolta do VAR que anulou uma suposta falta de posição irregular. A vitória emocionante contra o Hearts não só selou o 16º título em 18 anos para os Bhoys, como ainda mostrou como o destino pode ser implacável nas disputas esportivas, transformando um final de temporada em um espetáculo de reviravoltas.

A decisão do árbitro, que inicialmente anulou o gol do atacante Kyogo Furuhashi por uma margem mínima de impedimento, foi revertida após a análise do VAR, que identificou um erro na interpretação da linha de impedimento. O episódio reacendeu debates sobre a precisão da tecnologia no futebol, especialmente em momentos decisivos, e como ela pode alterar o destino de clubes e torcedores. Para os brasileiros, que vivem intensamente as emoções do VAR na Copa do Brasil e nos campeonatos nacionais, a situação soou familiar, mas também levantou questões sobre a consistência das decisões em diferentes ligas.

Agora, o foco da torcida do Celtic se volta para a próxima temporada, enquanto os rivais do Hearts tentam superar a frustração e se preparar para o desafio de 2025.