Hearts should have had Rangers penalty as SFA panel offer majority verdict on Tynecastle flashpoint

The SFA's Key Match Incident Panel have concluded that Hearts should have been awarded a penalty kick in their 3-1 loss to Rangers last Sunday.

With the scores level at 1-1 after Jambos new boy Michael Steinweinder had cancelled out a first half own-goal from Jamie McCart, the hosts were left furious after no action was taken against Clinton Nisala for a push on James Wilson inside the box. On-field John Beaton waved play on and VAR was not called upon to intervene and overturn the decision.

Philippe Clement's side then went on to win the game 3-1 thanks to Vaclav Cerny's strike and another own goal from McCart. After the game, Hearts boss Neil Critchley admitted he didn't have a clear view of the incident, but the SFA's five-man KMI panel have now determined that the wrong decision was made as part of their weekly review into the top-flight's most contentious calls.

A majority of three members of the five man team felt that Nsiala's foul was worthy of a penalty and that VAR should have been called in to recommend Beaton to award a spot kick. Their statement read: "The panel discussed this decision at length with the majority (3:2) deeming the on-field decision incorrect. The majority (3:2) believed that VAR should have intervened and recommended an OFR for a possible penalty kick."

Teen forward Wilson had felt aggrieved by the challenge and couldn't believe a spot kick was not awarded. He told the Edinburgh Evening News earlier this week: "I feel the shove on my back. It's put me off balance and got me going to ground.

"I definitely feel the shove on my back. I can't tell you how much it looks like a penalty, but it felt like a penalty. No, I haven't (exaggerated the push). I haven't tried that. I've legit been