Daizen’s Ibrox goal – “An assumption is a guess,” Steve Conroy

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The Celtic Star

·11 mars 2026

Daizen’s Ibrox goal – “An assumption is a guess,” Steve Conroy

Des Roache and Steve Conroy have criticised the decision-making process that resulted in Daizen Maeda’s goal being ruled out during Celtic’s clash with the Rangers at the weekend, describing the situation as “farcical”.

Daizen Maeda celebrates as Benjamin chases. Scottish Cup quarter final on Sunday 8 March 2026. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

Operating as a central striker, the Japan international believed he had opened the scoring after nodding home from close range.

Vidéos OneFootball

Maeda reacted quickest to a flick-on from Liam Scales, which came from Luke McCowan’s delivery into the box, but the goal was chalked off after Scales was judged to have been offside in the build-up.

The call has since sparked debate, with ex-officials Des Roache and Steve Conroy questioning the VAR intervention and the accuracy of the offside lines that were used.

Celtic thought Daizen Maeda had given them the lead at Ibrox, but the goal was overturned after a VAR review ❌ Liam Scales looks to have been just offside as he won the flick on 🍀 #ScottishCup
– dimanche 8 mars 2026

Speaking on Ref’s View Podcast, Roache said: “It’s barely recognisable. I mean, the angles aren’t great. But when you look at the way the play had progressed, Scales comes back from an offside position. Being offside isn’t an offence in itself. So you can be there.”

“But the first thing that he does, he materially impacts the game, because it’s him that nods the head, nods the ball on to Maeda. So that’s it.

“The buck stops there. He’s came back from there. But the standard of lines that we’re getting drawn now, is that where we’re at now in Scottish football?”

Conroy was even more critical, claiming the match officials effectively made an educated guess because they were unable to accurately place the offside lines, describing the situation as “an absolute joke.”

This is why Sportscene did not want to show or discuss this perfectly good goal which was ruled offside.
– lundi 9 mars 2026

Conroy said: “An assumption is a guess. Let’s not beat about the bush. I’ve long since given up trying to fathom what the SFA do. One week, it’s two lines. One week, it’s not.”

“We’re guessing, we can’t get the lines drawn anyway, so we’re just going to have a wee go at it. It is becoming farcical, and it’s making us look like country yokels.”

“It’s an absolute joke, not taken away from the fact that I think Scales was offside. But just give us it the way it should be. We don’t want diet VAR. Just give us the full fat version.It’s an absolute nonsense.”

The on-field decision from the referee and his assistant (linesman) was that the goal was good. VAR demonstrated that they had no better insight and as Conroy points out they took a guess. We’re certainly looking forward to hearing Willie Collum’s view on this one in his VAR Review show.

Conor Spence

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