FANS STUNNED AFTER DAIZEN MAEDA DELETES INSTAGRAM STORY FOLLOWING CELTIC’S 1–0 DEFEAT

DAIZEN MAEDA CAUSES ONLINE STIR AFTER DELETING INSTAGRAM STORY FOLLOWING RANGERS DEFEAT

Former Celtic star Daizen Maeda has caused a stir among supporters online after deleting an Instagram Story he had shared ahead of Celtic’s clash with Rangers at Celtic Park.

Maeda, who spent four seasons with Celtic between 2022 and 2026, shared a message that on his instagram story However, the Story was later deleted, with a screenshot continuing to circulate online following Celtic’s 1–0 defeat to Rangers.

The deleted post has attracted attention because of its timing, with supporters debating why Maeda removed the message after it had been published.

Maeda’s original Instagram Story featured an image of himself applauding while holding a microphone. The Celtic FC account was tagged on the post, while a message was placed across the bottom of the image.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity today. I really appreciate it,” the message said.

It continued: “Now is the time for everyone to come together and move forward as one.”

The message then added: “That’s what Celtic is all about. I’ll always be supporting you!”

The post was clearly positive in its wording and expressed Maeda’s continued connection with Celtic despite his departure from the club.

However, after Celtic lost 1–0 to Rangers, the Story was no longer available on Maeda’s Instagram account. A screenshot of the original post has since been shared online, allowing fans to see the message that had been removed.

There has been no confirmed explanation from Maeda regarding why he deleted the Story.

Reactions divided across social media. Some fans have questioned the timing of the deletion, while others have pointed out that the content itself was simply a message of appreciation towards Celtic.

One supporter @RyanCampbellCeltic wrote: “Posting this before the game and then deleting it after a 1–0 loss is certainly interesting. I wonder what happened.”

Another fan @ScottMorrisonCFC: took a more sympathetic view, saying: “Maeda clearly still has love for Celtic. I’m not going to attack him for showing appreciation to the club.”

@AndrewWilsonCeltic: says; “Everyone needs to calm down. We don’t know why he deleted the Story, so people shouldn’t invent reasons.”

The different reactions highlight the uncertainty surrounding the situation. While some supporters are curious about the timing, others believe there may be a straightforward explanation that has not been made public.

The Japanese forward has a significant history with Celtic. Maeda joined Celtic in 2022 and spent four seasons with the club before moving on in 2026. During his Celtic career, he made 133 appearances and scored 44 goals, becoming a familiar figure to supporters.

Maeda is now with Ipswich Town, where he has made two appearances and has yet to score since his move in 2026.

Despite his departure, the deleted Story demonstrated that Maeda still has an emotional connection with Celtic, at least based on the message he shared publicly.

The post focused heavily on unity and moving forward together, rather than commenting directly on the upcoming match or predicting what would happen against Rangers.

That distinction is important because there is currently no evidence in the screenshot showing that Maeda was reacting negatively to Celtic or that his decision to delete the Story was connected to the result.

The timing, however, has naturally led to speculation. Celtic’s 1–0 defeat to Rangers at Celtic Park meant the post was being discussed in the aftermath of a disappointing result for the home side. With the Story having disappeared from Maeda’s account, supporters began sharing screenshots and asking questions about the decision.

Some fans have taken the deletion as something worth discussing, while others have urged supporters not to read too much into it.

Another major point of discussion has been the fact that deleting the Story did not prevent the message from continuing to circulate. Once supporters had taken screenshots, the original content could still be shared across social media even after it disappeared from Maeda’s account.

The situation has therefore developed into a conversation about the deleted post rather than the actual words Maeda originally wrote.

For Celtic supporters, Maeda remains a player with a strong connection to the club because of his four-year spell in Glasgow.

From 2022 to 2026, he made 133 appearances and scored 44 goals. His performances during that period helped establish him as a popular figure among sections of the fanbase.

His move to Ipswich Town in 2026 brought an end to that chapter, but his recent Instagram activity shows that he continues to follow events surrounding his former club.

The deleted Story also contained a direct reference to Celtic and a message of support, making it different from a routine personal post.

However, the reason for its removal remains unknown.

Unless Maeda explains the decision himself, it would be difficult to establish whether the deletion was connected to the Celtic–Rangers result, a personal decision, or something unrelated to football altogether.

For now, supporters are left with the screenshot of the original Story and the timing of its disappearance.

The deleted post has generated significant discussion because of the combination of three events: Maeda posting the message ahead of the match, Celtic subsequently losing 1–0 to Rangers, and the Story later being deleted.

While some supporters have questioned the decision, others have defended Maeda and argued that the message itself was positive and respectful towards Celtic.

What remains clear is that Maeda’s deleted Instagram Story has become another talking point following the Old Firm defeat.

The former Celtic forward has moved on to Ipswich Town after four seasons in Glasgow, but his latest social-media activity has once again brought him into the spotlight among Celtic supporters.

For now, there is no confirmed reason for the deletion, and Maeda has not publicly explained what prompted him to remove the Story.