Muir exposed on VAR as new camera highlights Maeda penalty claim

Fresh footage has emerged of the penalty that Celtic were denied in the first half against Motherwell.

Looking straight across the penalty box from high in the Main Stand it is easy to track the movement of Daizen Maeda and Stephen O’Donnell.

The Motherwell defender realises that he has been caught on the wrong side of the fastest forward in Scottish football, panics slightly as his opponent goes past him and raises his elbow towards Maeda’s head as he runs at speed onto a pass from Alastair Johnstone.

That sent the Celtic forward sprawling, his momentum saw the ball end up in the net, played in by Maeda’s arm.

Referee David Dickinson awarded a goal, possibly he had his mind on other matters but Muir stepped in to halt the restart.

The VAR official noticed the handball but decided not to take action on how Maeda was sent sprawling, in any other country that would have resulted in a penalty being awarded and possibly a booking for O’Donnell. A pitchside review wasn’t even recommended for Dickinson.

Muir had a full suite of Sky Sports cameras to replay the incident at whatever speed he liked but couldn’t find the push on Maeda.

Previously this season the SFA has released audio to demonstrate the level of communication between officials and to justify the decisions taken.

It is highly unlikely that the audio from yesterday will be released, on Super Scoreboard tonight Willie Colum’s bestie, Gordon Duncan will be performing verbal gymnastics in the role of Devil’s Advocate to justify yesterday’s decision making.

Muir has been awarded a full time VAR role this season, it looks like he fits in perfectly with his colleagues Andrew Dallas and Greg Aitken.