Celtic continued their strong start to the season with a commanding 3-0 victory over St Mirren at the SMISA Stadium…
Brendan Rodgers’ side delivered a confident performance, overcoming a potentially tricky fixture with goals from Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate, and Alistair Johnston. Despite St Mirren’s reputation as a tough team to beat in Paisley, Celtic faced little resistance as they cruised to victory.
Penalty Controversy Surrounds Maeda’s Claims
While the result was never in doubt, some Celtic fans were left frustrated by two contentious moments involving winger Daizen Maeda, who appeared to have strong cases for penalties during the match.
Both appeals were waved away by referee Chris Graham, prompting discussions among supporters and pundits alike about whether Celtic had been denied two clear spot kicks.
Former FIFA Referee Backs Decision
Addressing the controversy on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former FIFA referee Dermot Gallagher defended the decisions made by the match officials. After reviewing the footage, Gallagher concluded that the referee was correct in not awarding penalties in either instance.
On the first claim, Gallagher explained, “I think Maeda actually wraps his legs around the defender when the defender goes to play the ball. In such situations, it’s important to trust the referee’s judgment unless VAR detects something blatantly wrong.”
Regarding the second incident, Gallagher added, “I still don’t think it’s a foul. The defender held his ground, and Maeda’s quick reaction suggested he knew it wasn’t a foul and just wanted to get on with the play.”
Eyes on the Glasgow Derby
Despite the penalty controversy, Celtic’s dominant performance secured all three points, making the penalty debate largely academic.
As the team now turns its attention to the upcoming Glasgow derby against theRangers, Celtic fans will hope for a similarly strong showing—and a game free from contentious refereeing decisions. Brendan Rodgers will be looking to maintain momentum and further cement Celtic’s position at the top of the league with another crucial victory that would open up a five points advantage on theRangers.
