Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has fumed at the controversial VAR decision that ruled out Daizen Maeda’s equaliser in Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Hibernian. The Celtic manager was left frustrated as VAR intervened to overturn the on-field decision, despite a lack of conclusive evidence showing the ball had fully crossed the line.
Rodgers Questions VAR’s Accuracy
Rodgers did not hold back in his assessment of the decision, expressing his frustration over the lack of conclusive evidence available to overturn the goal.
Speaking after the match, he said: (Premier Sports), “Well, my take is the official, Alan Muir, has had a guess at it because the linesman arguably has the best view in the stadium and he doesn’t give it. So for that to get overturned, then I’m assuming there’s an absolute clear image of the ball being out of play.”
Celtic goal chopped off! Was the WHOLE ball out?! I think there is clearly a significant portion of the ball still hovering over the line. The onfield ref & linesman both gave it as a goal. How can VAR intervene to chop this off as a clear & obvious error?! pic.twitter.com/HocSO8xfUG
— Timothy Fellowes (@FellowsT1888) February 22, 2025
However, Rodgers was sceptical about whether such definitive proof existed, highlighting the lack of technology available to make an accurate call:
“And my experience up here with VAR is that you don’t have all the angles. They don’t have the equipment to say it’s conclusively out. So you’re actually viewing it from a secondary position, which is a higher position.”
This decision marked another moment of controversy surrounding VAR’s implementation in Scottish football, with Rodgers believing that the officials were left making an educated guess rather than an informed ruling.
Lack of Equipment Raises Concerns
One of Rodgers’ biggest frustrations was the perceived inconsistency in VAR’s application and the lack of proper technology to make accurate calls. Unlike competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, where multiple angles and goal-line cameras provide clarity, the Scottish Premiership relies on a limited number of viewpoints. Rodgers elaborated on this issue:
“I think it’s obviously having the right equipment to also make it factual. Because you don’t have the right level of equipment. I think you’re a camera down. You can’t see the by-liners. Everything is either from an aerial view or one behind.”
This lack of advanced technology means that crucial decisions are sometimes made based on limited perspectives, which Rodgers believes is not good enough at the highest level.
Missed Opportunity for Celtic
The disallowed goal came at a pivotal moment in the match, with Celtic pushing for an equaliser in the closing stages. Had Maeda’s strike stood, it could have set up a dramatic finish, but instead, the Hoops were left chasing the game. Rodgers acknowledged the impact of the decision:
“Yes, well, I think there’s two things. Listen, I can’t deny that if we get the goal then, we get the equaliser. We’re really pushing in the second half. We’re much better.”
Despite their best efforts, Celtic were unable to find a late breakthrough, leaving them with a sense of injustice and further questions over the standard of officiating in Scottish football.
Calls for Transparency and Improvement
Rodgers and Celtic will undoubtedly seek answers from the authorities over why such a significant decision was made without clear proof. The debate over VAR’s effectiveness in Scotland continues to rage, with this latest incident only adding fuel to the fire. Fans and pundits alike have called for improved technology and greater consistency in decision-making to avoid similar controversies in the future.
