What ‘disgraceful’ referee did after Celtic’s disallowed goal vs Braga pointed out

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Celtic’s performance against Braga was a tough watch.

Brendan Rodgers’ side lacked intensity both on and off the ball as they failed to score for the fifth time already this season.

At the other end, things weren’t much better. A desperate error by Kasper Schmeichel called his form further into question, and Braga’s second goal was a mess.

But the biggest talking point from the game was not a Celtic error, but one from the match officials.

An extraordinary decision to rule out Kelechi Iheanacho’s equaliser has been a global talking point, and understandably so. One radio presenter has pointed out what the referee did after the ghost goal.

‘Disgraceful’ referee’s gesture towards Celtic’s Kelechi Iheanacho

The goal was disallowed for a handball, despite seemingly no indication from any angle that the ball made any contact with Iheanacho’s hand or arm.

The broadcast team covering the match grew increasingly perplexed as the delay went on, before it was confirmed that the goal would not stand.

READ MORE: ‘Better than Scales’… Celtic fans swoon over Gustaf Lagerbielke’s performance in Braga defeat

Speaking on TalkSPORT, Celtic-daft radio presenter Shebahn Aherne joined in on the pile-on, going on a rant about the decision and pointing out one thing that the referee did.

“I’ve watched it time and time again, in slow motion, in real time… that’s not a handball. It’s so much not a handball that he goes to the referee and he’s not been asked to check the screen despite the length of delay.

“And then the referee says ‘sorry it’s not happening, it’s not a goal…’ and touches his head! So you’re not allowed to use your head anymore? It clearly comes off Iheanacho’s head. On the way up, does it bounce off his shoulder? Yes, so can you not use your shoulder now? I’m so confused.

“Nobody knows anymore. Did Celtic do enough to win the game? No, I don’t think they did. But it certainly could’ve put them back in there at Parkhead against Braga.

“It’s just an absolute disgrace. Celtic on the end of one of the worst decisions of VAR we have ever seen. It’s absolutely disgraceful. Disgraceful.”

The worst referee decisions that Celtic have faced in Europe

Celtic, like most teams who regularly participate in UEFA competitions, have had their fair share of dodgy refereeing decisions.

Fans will remember Martin O’Neill’s rant after the Hoops were robbed of a result in their opening Champions League group match against Juventus in 2001, when a Nicola Amoruso dive was bought by the referee.

More recently, since the introduction of VAR, we have seen shenanigans such as Daizen Maeda’s red card against Atletico Madrid in 2023 which saw him dismissed for a slightly high foot, ruining the game after just 23 minutes.

We face enough in Scottish football – but UEFA can be equally as infuriating, as we have learned the hard way over the decades.