Celtic were denied a perfectly legal goal against Braga.
Kelechi Iheanacho headed the ball past two defenders to race in on goal and finish with aplomb to make the score 1-1 early in the second-half.
But VAR intervened and ruled the goal out because they adjudged Iheanacho to have used his arm to control the ball.
Countless replays show that there is no touch whatsoever, with Mark Clattenburg exclusively telling 67 Hail Hail that the decision was ‘harsh’ on the Hoops.
Now, Sky Sports pundit and former Leeds United striker Jay Boothroyd has weighed in on the farcical decision.
- READ MORE: Celtic fans fume after spotting what Chris McKay did in directors’ box during Braga defeat
Jay Boothroyd’s bewildered reaction to Celtic VAR drama vs Braga
Boothroyd was sat in the Sky Sports studio on Friday morning and was quizzed on his take, suggesting that UEFA may have viewed replays that were not broadcast live on TV.
Either way, he called it the worst VAR call he’s ever seen – something that simply cannot be argued. He said: “I actually looked at this goal yesterday before I went to sleep.
“I woke up this morning and I had a message from the producer saying ‘what about the VAR decision at Celtic?’ I thought it was another decision.
“I’ve seen that and it’s laughable. It is laughable. It’s clearly hit him on his head and he’s gone through. Where have they seen that handball?
“My question is are they seeing different replays? Because if they are, they need to come out and show that replay that they’ve seen to determine that it was a handball.
“And to answer your question, yes, it’s the worst that I’ve ever seen.”
Joe Hart was stunned watching Iheanacho incident live
Every reaction around the world has been the same: why on Earth did VAR deliver the verdict of handball against Iheanacho?
Ex-Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart was co-commentating the game live for TNT Sports and was content that the goal would stand after seeing the first replay.
The ‘handball’ incident was then being checked thoroughly by UEFA, by which time Hart responded: “No, what could they possibly be waiting for here?
“They must be seeing a different replay to me. What are they looking for there? What are we wasting our time for there? What?”
So was there a replay UEFA viewed that punters watching on TV did not? Celtic’s inquest into the call will hopefully deliver an answer on that.
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