Ref who sent off Daizen Maeda was blasted as ‘worst ever’ by raging Celtic star after last match in charge of Hoops

CELTIC found themselves down to ten men at half time in their Champions League clash away to Atletico Madrid when Daizen Maeda was dismissed.

With the Hoops already a goal down in the opening period, Maeda was initially booked for a challenge on Mario Hermos.

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The Japanese international looked to escape with only a caution after leaving his foot on his opponent, but after a VAR check the 26-year-old was given his marching orders.

And the man who dismissed him has a history of dismissing men in Hoops, with his last match in charge of the Scottish Premiership champions ending in controversial circumstances.

Tonight’s referee Ivan Kruzliak from Slovakia sent off former Parkhead defender Virgil van Dijk against Inter Milan in February 2015 as Ronny Deila’s men crashed out of the Europa League in heartbreaking fashion.

Having held the Italian giants to a thrilling 3-3 in Glasgow in the first leg, the Hoops were beaten 1-0 in the San Siro as the hosts progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

But the game was not without contention.

The current Liverpool centre half, who left the Hoops for Southampton in the summer of 2015, was left incensed with his sending off for receiving two bookings in nine minutes.

He said at the time: “It was a terrible decision. That is the worst referee I have ever experienced in my career.

“I don’t know why he made this decision but it was shocking. But I watched the whole game and I don’t understand all of the decisions he made.

“I got the red card and the second yellow was just a ball in the air we are challenging for – two players. We are shoulder to shoulder and (Mauro) Icardi got up and asked for the referee to book me again. He did that and it was a terrible decision.

“I would never ask for an opponent to be booked but it happens in football.”

Including Van Dijk’s sending off, Kruzliak handed out six yellows to the men in green and white, meaning the club were fined by UEFA, a decision which they later appealed.

Then-boss Delia slammed Kruzliak’s performance.

He said “The referee had a bad day at work. If we had a day like that we would have lost 6-0.”

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