Almost every pundit and ex-player seems to agree that Kelechi Iheanacho’s Celtic goal against SC Braga should have stood.
The Nigerian striker showed great awareness to slip in and steal a stray backpass and nip in between two SC Braga defenders to score what looked like a perfectly legitimate Celtic goal.
However, VAR stepped in and spotted an apparent handball and it’s a decision that has set the headlines on fire for Celtic supporters.
And when Arsenal legend Ray Parlour delivered his verdict on the handball, Celtic supporting Alan Brazil put him straight.
- READ MORE: Kelechi Iheanacho’s unseen gesture towards Brendan Rodgers minutes after Braga’s Celtic Park goal
Alan Brazil challenges Ray Parlour’s handball verdict at Celtic goal vs SC Braga
There won’t be many people who will agree with Parlour’s take on this and it took Brazil to challenge his view even though the Arsenal icon admits the decision to disallow Celtic’s goal was ‘ridiculous’.
Brazil said on talkSPORT, “Don’t forget, at 1-0, right? Celtic are down, 1-0, and then they score, and it’s a goal.
Parlour: “What are they thinking?”
Brazil: “VAR spent ages looking at it.”
Parlour: “It’s ridiculous isn’t it. I looked at it a couple of times.”
Brazil: “They looked at it for ages. It’s got to be given. I shook my head.”
Parlour: “It comes off his shoulder. He can’t do anything about it. And the shoulder’s not in play anyway.”
Brazil: “I’m not sure it did.”
Parlour: “It came off his shoulder slightly and it hit his head, yeah. But I’m with you Al. That is a disgrace, that it was chalked off.”
Brazil: “The decision I’m looking, it’s not the handball he’s given. There’s something else. I’m looking everywhere, I can’t see anything.
Parlour: “It pops off his shoulder and goes on to his head.”
Brazil: “I don’t think it did.”
Parlour: “I’ll show you.”
What Brendan Rodgers said about disallowed Celtic goal vs SC Braga
Brendan Rodgers was just as confused as the rest of the watching Celtic supporters about the decision to disallow the goal.
Speaking post-match, the Celtic manager said, “For the life of me, I don’t understand why it wasn’t given because it’s not even close to being handball.
“We’re still waiting on the explanation for that. It did serve as a catalyst [for Braga to go on and win the game].”
Yeah, it seems that Parlour is the only pundit willing to claim a handball was actually committed by Iheanacho which is strange considering the widespread disbelief at the decision.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
