Joe Hart Allegedly Calls Lawrence Shankland a ‘S****bag’ in Mind Games

During a heated match between Hearts and Celtic, goalkeeper Joe Hart sparked controversy when he seemingly labeled opposition player Lawrence Shankland a derogatory term. The incident unfolded as Hearts were awarded a contentious penalty following a VAR intervention prompted by a handball by Tomoki Iwata.

The penalty decision, initially overlooked by on-field referee Don Robertson, was eventually granted after consulting with VAR official John Beaton. Jorge Grant confidently converted the penalty, giving Hearts a 1-0 lead right before halftime.

In a twist of events, Lawrence Shankland, the prolific striker with 26 goals, deferred the penalty-taking responsibility to his teammate, causing Celtic keeper Joe Hart to react. Hart was captured on camera pointing and laughing at Shankland, with reports suggesting he mouthed the word ‘s****bag’ in the player’s direction.

The first half was eventful, with Hearts nearly doubling their lead as Shankland netted a goal in stoppage time, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. However, Shankland redeemed himself by scoring a textbook finish to give Hearts a 2-0 lead just before the hour mark.

Celtic also had their share of drama, with Adam Idah missing an early penalty after a controversial call against Alex Cochrane. The match further intensified when Yang was shown a red card for a high boot on Cochrane, despite appearing to have no malicious intent.

With the win, Celtic stood a chance to rise to the top of the Premiership following Rangers’ defeat against Motherwell. The match showcased a mix of skill, controversy, and intense moments, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.