Kelechi Iheanacho saw his Europa League leveller against Braga controversially chalked off
Celtic’s Kelechi Iheanacho handball incident(Image: YouTube)
Former SFA referee Bobby Madden has laid out the defence for the match officials over the Celtic goal that never was in the defeat to Braga.
Kelechi Iheanacho thought he had the Premiership champions level in the second half of the Europa League showdown.
However, it was ruled out by German whistler Tobias Stieler and was checked by the VAR team – with the TNT sports team leaking audio picked up on the headset stating “officials are saying there is a clear brush of the left arm somewhere in the footage”.
Celtic are set to contact UEFA to demand an explanation over the incident after Brendan Rodgers questioned why Christian Dingert on VAR did not send the man in the middle to review the flashpoint at the pitchside monitor.
But Madden has offered an explanation as he backed the refereeing team – claiming that the whistler was advised by his on-field assistant Timo Gerach and fourth official that Iheanacho had handled the ball after it rebounded off of Gustaf Lagerbielke.
That saw Stieler blow up for the illegal contact after allowing play to continue and the goal to be scored.
And Madden took to Instagram to weigh in – as well as share a unique angle of the flashpoint.
His post read: “Vorsprung durch technik (translated as Advantage through technology).
Bobby Madden shares a new angle of the Celtic handball incident
“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.”
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