GLASGOW, Oct. 2, 2025 – Celtic’s hopes of a comeback in their Europa League clash against Braga were dashed after a controversial VAR decision ruled out what Kelechi Iheanacho believed was a legitimate equalizer early in the second half.
The Nigerian forward, who joined Celtic earlier this season, thought he had made it 1–1 in the 51st minute when he reacted sharply to a loose ball in the box and slotted it past the Braga goalkeeper. However, referee Tobias Stieler disallowed the goal for handball after a brief VAR check by Christian Dingert.
Replays Raise Questions
Replays shown during the broadcast appeared to indicate that the ball struck Iheanacho’s face not his hand; before the goal, leading to visible confusion and frustration among Celtic players and fans alike. Despite calls for an on-field review, the referee was not sent to the monitor and the decision stood.
“It was an awful decision. The ball didn’t hit my hand – it hit my face,” Iheanacho said in a post-match interview. “I don’t know what the referee or VAR saw, but it was very disappointing.”
Rodgers, Hart, and Sutton React
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers also questioned the officiating in his post-match comments. “If VAR isn’t going to intervene in a clear situation like that, then what’s the point of having it?” Rodgers said.
Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart and club legend Chris Sutton echoed the frustration on social media and television punditry, calling the disallowed goal a “baffling” decision that undermined the purpose of VAR.
Social Media Backlash
The incident sparked a wave of criticism online, with fans describing the decision as “VAR madness” and “a robbery,” though UEFA has not issued any official comment on the matter at the time of writing.
Setback for Iheanacho and Celtic
Beyond the immediate impact on the match, the decision could also affect Iheanacho’s momentum ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming AFCON qualifiers. The forward is working to re-establish himself in the Super Eagles squad, and a goal in European competition would have bolstered his case.
Braga later doubled their lead in the 85th minute through Gabriel Martínez, securing all three points and leaving Celtic with just one point from their first two group matches. With the group stage now at a critical juncture, Rodgers’ men will need a strong response in the remaining fixtures.
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