Video: The shocking VAR decision that robbed Celtic of Europa League equaliser

Celtic were beaten by Braga this evening in the UEFA Europa League. The Scottish Champions were favourites against the Portuguese outfit and started brightly before a 30 yard strike put Braga ahead.

Brendan Rodgers changed the shape at half time and Celtic went to match the visitors. After five minutes, the manager will have been pleased that his side scored. Kelechi Iheanacho thought he’d scored his first Celtic Park goal. Inexplicably, the referee signalled a handball, which prompted a VAR check.

Replays showed that there was no handball and the ball was controlled by Iheanacho’s head and not being near his hand. The German officials have ruled it out but it is a baffling decision.

The decision does not necessarily mean that Celtic would’ve gone on and won the game but it was a crucial juncture in the game, which would’ve resulted in the game being level.

About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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5 Comments

  1. Undoubtedly the absolute worst VAR decision I ever witnessed. Not even the corrupt referees in Scotland have cheated Celtic so blatantly!
    But let’s not get carried away!
    If there was ever any doubts about Rodgers playing for the sack, tonight should have rubber stamped it for the doubters!
    He either doesn’t have a clue, or he doesn’t care!
    I’m not sure which! But he is no longer the man to be leading our club!
    As for the fans who despite their postponement of hostilities tonight, have done a brilliant job of destroying the morale of the players. So give yourselves a big pat on the back there you bunch of lowlife idiots!
    The most successful club in Scottish football history, and you lot act like you know what you’re talking about!
    You are a bunch of moronic anti-Celtic protesters who need to grow up!
    Just remember in May, when we DON’T win the league, don’t be looking for anyone else to blame! You all have mirrors at home! Go look in there! That moron looking right back at you is the culprit!

  2. We were rank rotten at times tonight. But equally we created dangerous moments around their goal area, had chances, and a draw would not have been an unfair result on balance of play. Going level totally changes the momentum and complexion of the tie.
    Does it guarantee we wouldn’t lose? No. But that’s not the job, nor the right, of incompetent officials to take away from ANY football team.
    Some VAR decisions we’ve seen have been a case of millimeters for offside and/or contentious- but this one was a joke. Clear as day no handball and it’s ruined the game (for one team).

  3. Got home tonight from grandsons football training having seen the non goal, said to my wife and son, I can only imagine the officials are German, and punishing us for our Palestinian leanings, cause after many viewings there was no foul committed there, and even more so, a blind man with a stick could see that. Imagine how shocked I was to find out the team were idd German with one dutch guy, lucky guess, eh?.

  4. A shocking decision by the referee , let’s hope there is some mechanism , whereby Celtic as a club can protest to UEFA about the incompetence of the officials . We will , however, never know because simple communications of that nature is something the Celtic Board don’t bother their backsides doing . That is just one reason why Celtic Park was like a ” Ghost town ” yesterday evening .

    For those who thought they were making a ” Magnificent Protest” against the Board ; have a think about the following :-
    1) It wasn’t the Board who played a kid in a major European tie when we had an experienced International player sitting on the bench .
    2) It wasn’t the Board who played an obviously unfit player at left-back .
    3) It wasn’t the Board who played a player (Paulo Bernardo) who hasn’t kicked a ball in months .
    4) It wasn’t the Board who played a goalkeeper who has been ” Dodgy since the Scottish Cup Final ”
    5) It wasn’t the Board who played Nygren and Maeda who took no part in the game and seemed even less interested.
    Maybe the protestors , who , are no doubt well intentioned , should focus their protest in a different direction .