Kelechi Promise Iheanacho, the forward for both the Super Eagles and Celtic, has made an impressive impact since joining the Scottish club, netting three goals and assisting once in six appearances across all competitions, according to Soccernet.ng.
The former Manchester City attacker was denied what could have been an additional goal during Celtic’s UEFA Europa League clash with Braga, as his strike was controversially ruled out for handball.
This contentious call ignited widespread frustration among supporters, many of whom believed the Hoops were unjustly deprived of a crucial opportunity to equalize.
Kelechi Iheanacho scores but VAR disallows for handball in UEFA Europa League 2025/26, Celtic FC vs SC Braga, Celtic Park, Glasgow” width=”1024″ height=”683″ />Stay Updated with Our Sports Coverage – Subscribe to Our WhatsApp Channel Today!
Following the match, Iheanacho expressed his frustration, insisting that his team was unfairly denied a chance to level the score, as they were trailing by just one goal at that point.
Brendan Rodgers, Celtic’s manager, also voiced his disapproval, suggesting that UEFA must address the questionable refereeing decisions. However, a week later, no official response has been issued.
Ex-Referee Dermot Gallagher Questions Iheanacho’s Disallowed Goal
Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee, shared his perspective on the controversial call, explaining why the goal was ultimately disallowed, despite his personal reservations.
“This decision caught my attention. I believed the ball struck his face as well,” the former FIFA-listed referee told 67hailhail.
“I reviewed the VAR guidelines to understand why the call wasn’t overturned. An infraction must be clear for a goal to be disallowed.
“I was informed that the on-field officials deemed it a handball; the assistant referee flagged for it, and the main referee disallowed the goal.
“VAR reviewed the incident but found no conclusive evidence to contradict the handball ruling.
“It might seem counterintuitive, but the protocol requires proof to overturn the referee’s decision.
“Since no evidence emerged to disprove the call, the goal was correctly ruled out,” Gallagher concluded.
Despite the setback, Iheanacho quickly bounced back, finding the net in Celtic’s subsequent 3-2 victory over Motherwell, demonstrating his resilience and continued value to the team.