Maeda's Second Celtic Goal Vs Hibs: VAR Controversy Explained

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Post on Feb 24, 2025

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Maeda's Second Celtic Goal vs Hibs: VAR Controversy Ignites Debate

Glasgow, Scotland — Kyogo Furuhashi's brace and Daizen Maeda's controversial second goal secured a 3-1 victory for Celtic against Hibernian at Easter Road on Saturday, but the match will be remembered as much for the VAR drama surrounding Maeda's strike as for the final scoreline. The incident, which sparked fierce debate among fans and pundits alike, highlighted the ongoing complexities and occasional frustrations of implementing Video Assistant Referee technology in football.

Maeda's second goal, scored in the [78th minute], came after a seemingly innocuous challenge by Hibernian's [Ryan Porteous] on Celtic's [Matt O'Riley] in the build-up. While the initial refereeing decision was to allow play to continue, the VAR review process was initiated, leading to a significant delay in the game. The review focused on whether O'Riley was fouled before Celtic transitioned quickly into attack, leading to the goal. After an extended period of deliberation, the goal was allowed to stand.

The key point of contention revolved around the interpretation of the contact between Porteous and O'Riley. Hibs argued that a clear foul had occurred, preventing their defense from setting up effectively, while Celtic maintained that the contact was minimal and within the acceptable parameters of physicality in a football match. Television replays revealed a degree of physical contact; however, whether it constituted a significant enough infringement to warrant a free-kick for Hibs remained a matter of opinion. [This is where the subjectivity of VAR interpretations often comes into play. The referee ultimately decided the contact did not significantly impede O'Riley.] This ambiguity left Hibs fans and players feeling aggrieved, arguing that the inconsistency in VAR decisions across different matches undermines the system's credibility.

The decision prompted a wave of online discussion, with social media platforms buzzing with contrasting perspectives. Many Celtic supporters celebrated the victory and the effectiveness of their team's performance, while Hibs fans expressed their discontent, pointing to what they perceived as a questionable and potentially game-changing decision. The incident underscores the need for greater transparency and consistency in the application of VAR, a challenge faced by football leagues worldwide. Some called for clearer guidelines and better communication to explain the rationale behind VAR decisions, aiming to reduce the sense of arbitrariness that sometimes surrounds them.

The match itself, beyond the controversy, saw a dominant performance from Celtic, particularly from Furuhashi who bagged two well-taken goals, further cementing his status as one of the SPL's most prolific strikers. Hibernian, despite the setback, offered moments of resilience and attacking flair, but ultimately couldn't overcome Celtic’s superior firepower and finishing. However, the discussion surrounding Maeda's goal, and the broader implementation of VAR, will likely continue long after the final whistle. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate about the balance between utilizing technology to improve fairness in the game and the inevitable subjective interpretations that can lead to both controversy and confusion. The lingering question remains: did the right call get made? The answer, unfortunately, depends entirely on individual perspective.