Kelechi Iheanacho’s Controversial Disallowed Goal
Kelechi Iheanacho had a goal controversially disallowed for handball as Celtic suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Sporting Braga in the Europa League. Iheanacho’s precise finish appeared to equalize the score, but a lengthy VAR review determined that the striker had committed an apparent handball in the lead-up, without the referee being prompted to review the play himself.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart expressed his disbelief on TNT, stating, “I assume there’s a bad Wi-Fi connection. That must be the only explanation for not continuing the game at 1-1. The ball struck his cheek, not his hand. I’m stunned.”
Celtic’s manager, Brendan Rodgers, shared similar confusion regarding the decision, saying, “There’s no way from any angle that he touched it. It hit his face, and he scored excellently. This was a crucial moment for us.”
Braga, who shocked Feyenoord the previous week, opened the scoring with a spectacular long-range shot by Ricardo Horta, which caught Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel off guard. As the match progressed, frustration mounted among Celtic fans, who delayed a scheduled protest but began leaving early after Braga’s second goal late in the game, leading to boos resonating around Parkhead.
The Celtic Fans Collective had previously postponed a planned protest after meeting with board members regarding dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer strategy and Champions League qualification failures. Nevertheless, shouts of “all Celtic fans against the board” intensified following Braga’s second goal.
Celtic began the match energetically, with Tounekti creating early chances. However, Schmeichel struggled and conceded possession before allowing Horta’s strike to slip by from 35 yards in the 20th minute. The team appeared unsettled, needing strong defensive efforts to keep the scoreline at 1-0 until halftime.
In a tactical shift during the break, Rodgers replaced Colby Donovan with Marcelo Saracchi and moved Tierney into a defensive role. Celtic improved but still failed to convert, with Iheanacho’s disallowed strike exemplifying their ongoing scoring struggles. While promising opportunities arose in the second half, the hosts ultimately succumbed to Braga’s second goal, leaving their hopes of progressing in the Europa League hanging by a thread.
