“…he had a guess at it…” – Brendan Rodgers SLAMS VAR Decision After Daizen Maeda’s Equalizer is Disallowed and…

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Slams VAR Decision After Daizen Maeda’s Equaliser is Disallowed

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has expressed his disappointment and frustration after Daizen Maeda’s equaliser was disallowed by VAR in their 2-1 defeat to Hibernian at Easter Road.

The Japanese attacker thought he had drawn Celtic level late on, but the goal was chalked off after VAR intervened, ruling that the ball was out of play in the build-up. The decision proved crucial, as Celtic went on to lose the match, with Josh Campbell’s brace proving decisive.

Speaking post-match, Rodgers reacted to the disallowed goal, stating: “My take is that the (VAR) official Alan Muir has had a guess at it. The linesman arguably has the best view in the stadium, and he doesn’t give it (as out of play). So for that to get overturned, then I’m assuming there’s an absolutely clear image of the ball being out of play. So that’s a huge disappointment.”

Rodgers’ comments highlight the ongoing controversy surrounding VAR and its impact on the game. The Celtic manager’s frustration is understandable, given the significance of the decision and the fact that the linesman, who had the best view of the incident, did not initially flag for offside.

The defeat marks only Celtic’s second league loss of the season, but Rodgers will be eager to get his team back to winning ways when they host Aberdeen on Tuesday evening. The match against the Dons will provide Celtic with an opportunity to bounce back from their disappointment at Easter Road and maintain their push for the Scottish Premiership title.

As the season enters its final stretch, Celtic will need to regroup and refocus if they are to achieve their goals. The VAR controversy may have overshadowed the match, but Rodgers will be keen to ensure that his team learns from the experience and moves forward.

In the meantime, the debate surrounding VAR will continue to rage on. While the technology is designed to provide greater accuracy and fairness, its implementation has been far from perfect. As Rodgers’ comments illustrate, there is still much work to be done to ensure that VAR is used effectively and consistently.

Celtic’s defeat at Easter Road may have been a setback, but the club will be eager to put the controversy behind them and focus on the challenges ahead. With a crucial match against Aberdeen looming, Rodgers will be looking to his team to respond positively and get their season back on track.