LFC Live - 'There is no doubt' - Ex-FIFA ref stunned by Daizen Maeda incident as Celtic crash out of Champions League

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Ben Palmer

Tue 26 August 2025 21:22, UK

Keith Hackett was left with no doubts after analysing Daizen Maeda blocked a shot off the line with his hands in Celtic’s penalty shootout loss to Kairat Almaty.

The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official exclusively told Football Insider that whilst the distance from the shot was close, the Japan international should have been penalised.

Celtic’s transfer business was resting on their place in the Champions League, finance expert Dan Plumley revealed to Football Insider before the match.

Brendan Rodgers has been vocal about his displeasure with the Hoops’ lack of activity in the market, and the Northern Irishman lacked options from the bench against Kairat.

The champions of Kazakhstan held Celtic to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Parkhead, and after 120 minutes at the Central Stadium in Almaty, the deadlock had not been broken.

And it was the Hoops’ shaky start from the spot that was ultimately their undoing, with Maeda himself missing the decisive spot kick.

But the tie could have been over before then if the home side had been awarded a penalty in normal time after Celtic made a series of inexplicable decisions.

Daizen Maeda had several opportunities to win the tie for Celtic.

(Credit: Imago)

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This article contains exclusive comments from ex-PGMOL chief, FIFA official and former professional referee Keith Hackett.

In the 50th minute, the ball popped up to Callum McGregor and the Scotland international had both time and space to do whatever he pleased.

And for whatever reason, the 32-year-old played a horrendous, bouncing back pass to Kasper Schmeichel that was on its way into the top corner.

That was until the Denmark international punched it upwards once, then punched clear, with the second one seemingly out of frustration, rather than a defensive action.

The Dane’s anger came because McGregor’s back pass and the ensuing touch of Schmeichel’s gloves had given Kairat an indirect free kick from 10 yards out.

The free kick was then hit into a crowd of Celtic players, where once again, an inexplicable decision was made, this time by Maeda, who handled the ball with both hands.

After a review from VAR, no penalty was given, which left former referee Hackett in shock, as the decision seemed an obvious one.

Having re-watched the footage, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett was perplexed at the decision not to award a penalty kick.

He told Football Insider exclusively: “There is no doubt that the Celtic player handled the ball and for me, this is a penalty kick.

“In closing the kicker down he has made his body shape bigger and his hands are away from his body.

“The distance is close but that is because of the movement of the defender and a penalty kick should have been awarded.”

When asked whether the referee had made the right decision in only awarding a free kick and not giving a harsher penalty to Schmeichel, Hackett said: “The referee is correct.

“The law states that for sending-off offences regarding a player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off: denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).”