Celtic’s 3–1 victory over Motherwell contained a moment that looked straightforward to most people watching, yet one comment on BBC Sportsound during the game still managed to raise a few eyebrows.
The flashpoint came from a Celtic corner during the second half.
The ball drifted to the back post where Daizen Maeda had found space and looked set to nod the ball home from close range. With the delivery dropping perfectly for the Japanese forward, Motherwell defender Emmanuel Longelo wrapped his arms around him and hauled him to the ground.
In real time, referee John Beaton waved play on.
However, VAR official Kevin Clancy quickly intervened and asked Beaton to take another look at the incident on the pitchside monitor. After reviewing the footage, the referee overturned his original decision, awarded Celtic a penalty, and produced a red card for Longelo for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity.
It was a turning point in the match.
Tomas Cvancara stepped up to convert the penalty, putting Celtic ahead and leaving Motherwell with ten men for the remainder of the game. The Hoops went on to secure a 3–1 win that, coupled with Hearts’ later defeat to Kilmarnock, leaves Celtic just two points off the top of the Premiership with eight matches remaining.
Yet even after the VAR intervention, BBC Sportsound pundit Stephen Craigan was not convinced.
Speaking during the commentary, the former Motherwell defender said:
“I think he ducks down. It’s not the force of Longelo that puts him down, I think he does down himself and tries to head it in.
“It’s a big call. It doesn’t look like a penalty, but stranger things have happened.”
It was a curious take once the replay had been shown.
The footage clearly shows Longelo pulling Maeda to the ground as the Celtic forward prepared to meet the ball at the back post. Without that contact, Maeda would almost certainly have had a free header from a couple of yards out.
That is precisely why the red card followed once the penalty was awarded. Longelo had prevented a clear goal scoring opportunity.
To be fair to Craigan, live commentary often leaves pundits reacting in the moment before multiple angles are available.
Perhaps after watching the clip back properly he might come to a different conclusion. On replay, it looks about as clear a penalty as you will see.
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4 responses
Are you for real trying to make excuses for Craigan. We all know what he is !!
Craigan will see what he wants to see, until clear evidence comes to light. Even then he might not be persuaded. Just one of those people who should never be allowed to do Jury service.
Come on who’s kidding who here Craigan’s always hated Celtic and for years was trying to get a move to Rangers as a player but wasn’t good enough, he’s finally managed to get to Ibrox in a temporary coaching capacity, so he’s never going to give us any credit or admit that that was as stonewall a penalty as you’ll see. If the Motherwell had battered Daizen’s face off the post ten times that tangerine coloured chap without a father would’ve still said it was a soft award.
On Sportscene, he says its 100% a penalty, has a go at the ref for not spotting in real time and praises VAR for intervening