Ex-SPFL referee Bobby Madden has praised the VAR official for Celtic vs Braga.
The Hoops lost the Europa League clash 2-0 on Thursday night at Parkhead but thought they had made it 1-1 early in the second-half.
Kelechi Iheanacho bustled his way past two Braga defenders before slotting his finish into the opposite corner of the net.
However, the on-field referee Tobias Stieler ruled the goal out for handball and this was backed up by the VAR officials analysing the replays.
Celtic fans are outraged that the handball decision was upheld, while Brendan Rodgers was gobsmacked that the goal was ruled out.
While Celtic await an official UEFA explanation, Madden has weighed in on the incident and believes the officials on the night were spot on.
Madden praises ‘top officials’ despite Celtic handball farce
He explains on his Instagram that Stieler’s assistant referee and fourth official alerted him to a handball offence just before Iheanacho scored, not VAR afterwards.
Stieler allows Iheanacho to convert, which Madden says is the correct protocol, before disallowing the goal on-field for handball.
It then goes to the VAR team to check if Stieler’s call is a clear and obvious error, which Madden claims they could not 100% determine with the camera angles available.
Therefore, the on-field decision was not overturned. Madden hailed the UEFA officials by explaining: “Should never doubt German efficiency!
“Best to clear things up: Referee did not see handball. Assistant and fourth official (with exceptional eye sight) advise referee of handball.
“Referee allows play to continue and goal is scored, in line with protocol. Goal is then disallowed on field for handball.
“VAR reviews all images to find angle where contact occurs. There is no clear evidence to say it didn’t so goal stands.
“Top officials and top VAR operator, I didn’t expect them to get that wrong.”
Mark Clattenburg gave his Iheanacho handball verdict
Another ex-referee in Mark Clattenburg also provided his opinion on the handball directly to 67 Hail Hail, explaining that the ‘call is correct’ despite being ‘incredibly harsh’ on Celtic.
He told us: “VAR have disallowed the goal due to it allegedly touching Kelechi Iheanacho’s hand after immediately scoring a goal.
“At first glance the ball looks like it clearly touches the head and this leads to the confusion. When you slow it down, it slightly brushes the arm before it touches the head.
“This is an incredibly harsh call by the referee team but while this law is defined in this way, then the call is correct.
“However it does not feel right that a goal should be disallowed in this circumstances.”
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