Two former Grade One referees have criticised VAR’s intervention in disallowing Daizen Maeda’s late equaliser against Hibernian, calling the decision “impossible” to verify due to the lack of goal-line technology.

Taking to Twitter, Des Roache and Steve Conroy expressed their frustration at the controversial call, which ruled that Alistair Johnston’s cross had gone out of play before Maeda converted.

“We don’t have goal-line technology, so it’s impossible to clarify whether the ball was still in. They can’t see it clearly from the angle they’ve got, so it’s not clear and obvious – therefore, VAR shouldn’t have got involved.”

We don’t have goal-line technology so impossible to clarify whether the ball was still in. https://t.co/KxiCJU8vZ7

— The Ref’s View (@TheRefsView) February 22, 2025

The decision has sparked a major debate, with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers questioning the evidence used to overturn the on-field decision. The assistant referee did not initially flag for a goal kick, which adds to the confusion over why VAR intervened without a conclusive angle.

If it was a clear and obvious error from the official, and the ball was obviously out of play, with conclusive evidence to support that claim, no one would have a problem with the decision, but as it stands, that evidence isn’t in the public domain.

With the Scottish FA’s Key Match Incidents Panel set to review the incident on Friday, and Willie Collum likely to address it on the VAR Review Show, the controversy is far from over.

Despite the setback, Celtic remain 13 points clear at the top of the Premiership, with a chance to bounce back against Aberdeen on Tuesday night at Parkhead.