Des Roache told Hotline LIVE he didn’t believe it was a foul by the Nigerian although accepted it wouldn’t be overruled either way
20:11, 06 Apr 2026Updated 20:12, 06 Apr 2026
Kelechi Iheanacho accused of pushing before netting at Dens Park
Claims that Celtic’s winning goal against Dundee should have been disallowed for a foul have been torpedoed by Record Sport’s resident ref Des Roache.
Kelechi Iheancho fired Martin O’Neill’s men back into the title race after coming off the bench at Dens.
With the score locked at 1-1, the Nigerian smashed home from close range to cut the between Celts and leaders Hearts to just three points.
Claims that Iheanacho shoved dark Blues defender Ryan Astley before scoring have been rife from Rangers fans, indignant the the goal should have been chalked off after a VAR check.
But Roache, who accepts that had the call gone the other way then VAR most likely wouldn’t have overruled, felt there wasn;t enough in it to penalise Iheancho
“You look at that still there and it doesn’t look great,” Roache said on the latest episode of Hotline LIVE. “But football’s a physical sport.
“I’m not jumping in to give a foul there and tellingly, not one Dundee player even looked for a foul while the game was on.
“That’s not a foul. 100 per cent it’s not a foul.
“If it’s given as a foul, VAR isn’t going to overrule it. But VAR is only there to comment on clear and obvious errors.
“So what’s happened there is an opinion, and we share the same opinion.
“If I was VAR and the referee gave a foul, I could support it and say you know what? Yeah he’s shoved him, he’s nudged him.
“But it’s just absolutely not. And Iheanacho looking and waiting to see what’s going to happen, that’s a symptom of where we are with VAR; they’re not sure they can celebrate a goal.
“I’ve got no issue with the decision at all.
“Not just Astley, but you look at the goalkeeper and the players surrounding him, nobody is looking for a foul.”
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