The final moments of the Celtic match against Kilmarnock were marked by a controversial penalty call.

As the clock ticked down and Celtic’s desperation for an equaliser grew, Haksabanovic found himself in the thick of the action. Positioned just to the left of the 6-yard box, the Celtic forward was poised to make a decisive move. However, a sliding challenge from a Kilmarnock defender coming in from behind changed the course of the play.

The tackle, which saw contact made with Haksabanovic’s ankle, sent the player tumbling to the ground. The immediate shouts from the stands, with Celtic fans hoping for a penalty and Kilmarnock supporters contesting the legitimacy of the fall.

Massive call for VAR in the dying seconds pic.twitter.com/qWXJJdXlYU

— Get Involved Referee! (@GetInvolvedRef) August 20, 2023

Did the challenge genuinely trip up Haksabanovic, or was he looking for an opportunity, given the pressing need for a goal to push the match into extra time?

The referee’s decision in moments like these can change the narrative of the game. In this instance, the choice to award or not award a penalty had the potential to alter the outcome of the match and, possibly, the trajectory of the cup for both teams. VAR also had a look but chose to stand by the in-field decision.

Former whistler Steve Conroy delivered his verdict, and he told the Getinvolved podcast : “Contact doesn’t automatically mean a foul. I think he got the ball, but then the Celtic player deliberately “tripped” over the Kilmarnock leg. The tackle was perfectly fair, contact with the player or not, so there was no foul.”

Whether we like it or not, Celtic were atrocious today and the depth on our bench was also a concern with some key players missing.