Fresh controversy has erupted following Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Motherwell after a short video clip involving Daizen Maeda began circulating widely among supporters online.
The 13-second footage, which has quickly gone viral across social media, appears to show the Celtic forward making contact with a Motherwell player’s face with his elbow during a fast-moving passage of play in the Scottish Premiership clash.
The incident was not penalised during the match and did not result in any VAR intervention — a detail that has sparked fierce debate among rival supporters.
The controversy is intensified by the fact that VAR did step in later in the same game to award Celtic a penalty and send off Motherwell defender Emmanuel Longelo after a review of his challenge on Maeda inside the penalty area.
That moment proved decisive in the match. With the score at 1-1, the review resulted in a penalty which Tomas Cvancara converted to give Celtic the lead, while Longelo was dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
However, the resurfaced footage of Maeda’s earlier collision has now opened a completely different debate.
In the clip, Maeda can be seen sprinting forward during open play as a Motherwell player closes in. As the two players come together, Maeda’s arm appears to swing upward, making contact with the opponent’s face.
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Supporters watching the footage are sharply divided on what exactly happened.
Some fans — particularly rival supporters — insist the incident should have resulted in a red card for violent conduct, arguing that the contact with the elbow was clear and that VAR should have intervened.
Others believe the moment looks far less sinister when viewed in real time, suggesting the Motherwell player approached from the side or slightly behind, meaning Maeda may not have even been aware of his exact position.
From that perspective, the contact could simply be the result of a natural running motion rather than a deliberate strike.
Regardless of interpretation, the clip has reignited discussion about consistency in the use of VAR.
Many fans pointing out the incident have questioned how the technology was able to miss that moment entirely, especially when VAR later intervened decisively in the same match to award Celtic a penalty and issue a red card.
For some supporters, that perceived inconsistency has become the biggest talking point of all.