RAGING Celtic will contact UEFA to demand answers to why Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal in the 2-0 loss against Sporting Braga was ruled out at Parkhead last night.
With the Hoops trailing 1-0, the striker broke through to steer an effort low past keeper Alaa Bellaarouch in the 51st minute for what looked like a perfectly good equaliser.
Remarkably, it was disallowed when German referee Tobias Stieler was backed up by the VAR team over a phantom handball offence.
TV coverage provided by TNT clearly showed the ball striking Iheanacho on the head as he raced clear of two defenders to whip his shot into the net.
CONTROVERSY AHEAD…Gustaf Lagerbielke launches into a tackle.
CRUNCH…the former Celtic defender makes contact as the ball spins up off Kelechi Iheanacho.
HEADS I WIN…Iheanacho nods the ball forward.
PICK IT OUT…the Celtic striker whips a low shot into the net for what looks like a perfectly legitimate goal – only for VAR to rule otherwise.
A VAR audio leak stated “officials are saying there is a clear brush of the left arm somewhere in the footage”.
The match official signalled the ball had been played by Iheanacho’s arm and chalked off the goal much to the relief of the Portuguese side.
A bewildered Brendan Rodgers said: “I can’t understand why the referee isn’t asked to go and have a look at it.
“I think if you’re looking at that, even if you look at it once, twice, and I’m assuming the guys in the VAR will have watched it more than that, because of the time it took, there’s absolutely no way from every angle you look at that he’s touched it with his arm.
“It’s hit his face, he went on and finished it really, really well. And that’s a big moment in the game for us. I think clearly that is what the assumption is, that it’s not conclusive.
“It’s a mistake by the referee.”
EURO WOE…Kasper Schmeichel cries out in anguish as Braga take the lead.
Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “That, for me, is what VAR is about, to correct the wrong decision.
“So, it was a wee bit baffling that he wasn’t even asked to come over and look at the screen. I don’t know why and I haven’t had an explanation. It’s a real pivotal point in the game.
“If we get the goal at 1-1, that breeds confidence again.
“We continued to press and the keeper’s made a couple of great saves.
“We couldn’t quite get the goal and of course, at 1-0 when you’re chasing, we then conceded a disappointing second goal. Very frustrating.”
It was another European night of massive disappointment for the Celtic fans who saw their team fall behind in the 20th minute when a 25-yard drive from Ricardo Horta bamboozled Kasper Schmeichel as it soared high into the left-hand corner of the net.
With five minutes to play, substitute Dane Murray belted a clearance off Gabri Martinez and the rebound flew past the grounded Schmeichel.
HOOPS FLOP IN NIGHT OF CALAMITY
