The 'clear as day' Celtic penalty decision that led to VAR confusion as verdict cast on Motherwell flashpoint

Celtic winger Daizen Maeda should have been awarded a first-half penalty during the Premiership clash with Motherwell at Fir Park after being bundled over under a “clumsy” challenge in the box.

That is the verdict of pundits Michael Stewart and Marvin Bartley who were in unanimous agreement over the flashpoint at Fir Park on Sunday.

With the Hoops leading 1-0, Brendan Rodgers’ side thought they had bagged a second goal after the Japanese international found the bottom corner of the net off of Maeda’s arm under pressure from Motherwell defender Stephen O’Donnell. Confusion immediately set in with the Celtic players delayed in congratulating their teammate after Maeda appealed for a penalty kick amid protests from the home side towards referee David Dickinson.

There was a subsequent delay to proceedings while the incident was checked by the VAR team at Clydesdale House before the whistler was informed to rule the goal out, but no information was provided over a potential foul on Maeda.

Discussing the call on BBC Sportscene, Stewart was baffled by the decision, admitting: “It was always going to be a disallowed goal, but it's a penalty kick. I can’t for the life of me figure out how this had now been given.

“Daizen Maeda is going in a straight line. Stephen O’Donnell is trying to get in front of him to get the block on him - in terms of getting his body in front - but he never does, and there is a collision and it’s clumsy. It’s a foul. It’s a penalty kick. It's clear as day.”

Offering his take, Bartley added: “I am in total agreement with that. I don’t understand how if the referee does miss it that VAR doesn’t intervene, because that for me is a blatant penalty.”