SFA's statement on Celtic's disallowed goal against Hibernian

It would be safe to say that there was controversy coming out of the game between Celtic and Hibernian at Easter Road. The home side won, having taken a 2-0 lead in the first half. But it could have so easily ended in a 2-2 draw at full-time. In fact, some would say that it should have after Daizen Maeda found the back of the net for a second time.

Unfortunately, Maeda's second goal was ruled out. Initially, it had been given by the on-field referees but VAR decided that the ball had gone out before Alistair Johnston had put in his cross for the Japanese striker to score.

The issue here is, when technology is being used and a decision is being overturned, there should be no room for doubt. It should be a definitive answer. Unfortunately, that was not the case in this instance.

In fact, even while looking at the footage in slow motion from the angles available, one cannot be completely certain that the ball had indeed gone out of play before Johnston put his cross in. In such a scenario, should the goal have been disallowed?

SFA's statement on Celtic's disallowed goal against Hibernian

While speaking on Premier Sports after the match, Emma Dodds said:

"The SFA have said that the guidance on this disallowed goal is that the VAR check was from the 18-yard line camera, which is this one, and showed that the ball had crossed the byline. So, in their opinion, this is conclusive."

Brendan Rodgers sounded neither convinced nor happy with the call after the match and nobody can blame him for that. The use of VAR in Scotland has been a topic of discussion since it was first introduced and this was one instance where perhaps it would have been best to stick with the on-field decision.

That being said, perhaps there is the need to use added technology instead. If there had been goal line tech in play here, there would have been a definitive answer to the question everybody seems to be asking this morning.