It was a dramatic end to proceedings for Celtic against Motherwell on Sunday.
Daizen Maeda provided the drama by scoring a late winner in stoppage time to send the Celtic Park faithful into party mode, and leaving Motherwell in despair.
The 2025/26 Premiership season is still pretty fresh, but it seems as though there have already been a fair few penalties and VAR calls involving Celtic.
Against Motherwell, two penalties were awarded, and former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher was clear in what he thought about them.
- READ MORE: What Brendan Rodgers told his Celtic players about lack of goals before late win vs Motherwell
Celtic and Motherwell penalties
Celtic were awarded the first penalty in the first half – and it was dispatched by Kelechi Iheanacho – when opposing player Regan Charles-Cook was punished for handball.
Gallagher made it clear on Sky Sports that, ‘once your arm is that high’, then you are going to get ‘penalised’, and that’s what happened here.
Then, in the second half, with the scores level, Celtic defender Marcelo Saracchi was punished for what the referee deemed a rash foul.
Once again, Gallagher praised the officials and thinks there were no complaints on both fronts, with former Premier League forward Jay Bothroyd in agreement.
Gallagher: “He (Saracchi) just stands on his foot. He doesn’t mean to do it. But he just catches him. He is in possession of the ball and he is going to get the ball, so VAR intervenes and it’s a penalty.”
Bothroyd: “Again. Agreement. A really good touch from the attacking player there. He is about to have a shot. He has stepped on his foot. Correct decision.”
Hayley McQueen: “Celtic got their penalty when Callum McGregor’s shot hit Regan Charles-Cook on the arm. Referee Calum Scott gave it. Right decision?”
Gallagher: “Yeah. Once your arm is that high. You are always going to get penalised. The only doubt is, is it in the penalty area? But if you look at the referee’s positioning, it’s perfect, and you can see that it’s in the penalty area.”
Bothroyd: “Yeah, I agree with that.”
Celtic’s matches after the October international break
It’s the October international break, the second of this campaign, with a final one to come next month, and it’s what fans hate the most.
But when the Celtic players return, they will be up against it, on all fronts – the Premiership, League Cup, and the Europa League.
Hopefully, Celtic’s late winner against Motherwell can seriously change the mood around Parkhead because it’s needed, and these upcoming fixtures can do the trick.
- Dundee (A), October 19, Premiership
- SK Sturm Graz (H), October 23, Europa League
- Hearts (A), October 26, Premiership
- Falkirk (H), October 29, Premiership
- Rangers (H), November 2, League Cup
- Midtjylland (A), November 6, Europa League
- Kilmarnock (H), November 9, Premiership
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