The word ‘apparently’ used in referee report vs Young Boys that helped Celtic win Daizen Maeda red card appeal

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Daizen Maeda was sent off as Celtic beat Young Boys in the Champions League.

The Japanese winger was given his marching orders after the Celtic hero kicked out at Young Boys’ Mohamed Ali Camara in the 88th minute of the Champions League win at Celtic Park.

Maeda was suspended for the final game of the group stages against Aston Villa and then the Celtic winger was handed a further one-game ban for endangering an opponent.

Many Celtic fans understood why Maeda was given a straight red and many will have thought at the time that an appeal would have been frivolous.

However, Celtic did appeal and won the case and Maeda was free to face Bayern Munich at Celtic Park. So just how did the Parkhead club manage to successfully get the ban overturned?

Pundit, Hugh Keevins reckons he knows.

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The word used in the Champions League referee report that Celtic exploited in Maeda appeal

Speaking about the upcoming second-leg tie, Keevins was discussing the situation around Maeda’s appeal when he offered what he heard about the match referee’s report.

Keevins told Superscoreboard [35m 30s], “And then it was apparently the use of the word assault in the referees’ report that allowed Celtic’s legal team to say, assault? Really?

“And UEFA have had a look and decided that is not assault.”

Mark Wilson’s verdict on Daizen Maeda red card will interest Celtic fans

There will have been many Celtic fans who agreed with the decision, but there are many more who thought the referee was wrong to send off Maeda.

Here, Mark Wilson delivers his verdict on the late punishment the Celtic winger received.

Wilson said, “I thought it was harsh at the time, I did say that, but I think you’re right Gordon, nobody really batted an eye lid.

“It was only when you then start thinking, right, there’s another game upcoming here, and you’re losing such an influential player.”

Thankfully, it all worked out in Celtic’s favour and Maeda’s goal in the 2-1 defeat in the first leg gives Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers a slim chance to pull off the unthinkable on Tuesday night.

Rodgers needs to win by two goals or more at the Allianz Arena and whilst many Celtic fans may think that it is nigh-on impossible to do, the way this team have been playing this season, anything is possible.