Celtic’s 1-1 draw with Wolves was marred by a controversial penalty decision that allowed the Premier League side to equalise in the closing stages of the match.
The incident, involving Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart and Wolves’ Irishman Matt Docherty, has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike.
In the video attached to this article, Hart appears to make no contact with Docherty, who falls to the ground in the penalty area. Despite protests from Celtic players, the referee awarded the penalty, which Wolves converted to level the score.
.@Wolves equalise at the Aviva Stadium 🐺
Joe Hart deemed to have taken down Matt Doherty and Matheus Cunha converts from the spot ⚽ pic.twitter.com/bbQBEhgyox
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) July 29, 2023
The incident happened on the linesman’s side of the pitch, raising questions about why neither official spotted what appeared to be a dive from Docherty. However, some have argued that Hart’s reckless dive towards Docherty may have influenced the referee’s decision.
While the penalty decision was undoubtedly a turning point in the match, it should not overshadow a hard-fought encounter between two competitive sides. Despite the controversial ending, both teams demonstrated their quality throughout the match, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
