News

Dermot Gallagher gives ‘two reasons’ why Daizen Maeda’s Celtic goal was disallowed vs Hibs

Add as preferred source on Google

The debate over the non-Celtic goal against Hibs continues as Sky Sports’ Dermot Gallagher offers his verdict on the incident.

So far the Celtic supporters have heard David Gray’s take over the goal with the Hibs boss ‘delighted’ at getting a ‘break’ against the Parkhead club.

Brendan Rodgers was raging at the decision as the Celtic manager was filmed confronting the match officials right on the full-time whistle at Easter Road.

And now, it’s the turn of Dermot Gallagher who offered ‘two reasons’ why VAR decided to get involved and disallow Daizen Maeda’s Celtic equaliser in the Easter Road defeat.

Hibernian FC v St. Johnstone FC - Cinch Scottish Premiership
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Dermot Gallagher says who was ‘caught out by the speed’ of the Celtic attack vs Hibs

Many Celtic fans are convinced that the ball was in play when Alistair Johnston made the cross for Maeda to tuck the ball home but here, Gallagher shares which of the match officials were caught out by the speed of the Hoops’ attack.

Gallagher said on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, “Well, the assistant couldn’t tell for two reasons. A) He’s caught out by the speed of the move for a start. And secondly, because Johnston’s body covers where the ball actually is, so it’s a really, really tough call.

“So the VAR has to look and be convinced that the whole ball is over the line, which bearing in mind how big the ball is, that’s a big, big call.

“But they said it was out.”

Celtic contact the SFA over disallowed goal vs Hibs

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed in his pre-match Aberdeen press conference that the Parkhead club had contacted the SFA over the decision.

Rodgers said, “I don’t think there’s any more footage on it. I think the club go through the process. We don’t make statements and do all sorts of things.

“We just go through the procedure and the process which is the club to speak to the SFA and just get a feeling of what they think.

“Obviously, we haven’t had anything back yet.”

With the SFA’s VAR Rewview show with Willie Collum due out this week, it will be interesting to hear what the Head of Referees says about this high-profile incident.