Tounekti slams ‘crazy’ decision to rule out Celtic equaliser in Europa League defeat
Celtic are yet to register a win in this season’s Europa League, but were denied a potentially crucial goal in their loss to Braga.
Celtic winger Sebastian Tounekti labelled the decision to rule out Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal as “crazy” after they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Braga.
Brendan Rodgers’ side, who have now only picked up one point from their first two Europa League games, saw a potential equaliser by Iheanacho ruled out for handball early on in the second half.
The Nigerian was visibly confused, with the striker claiming, “The ball didn't hit my hand, and that changed the game,” and replays backing Iheanacho’s stance.
The Scottish Premiership side then conceded a late goal to rule out any hopes of a turnaround, following on from Ricardo Horta’s first-half stunner.
Celtic have now failed to score in five of their 12 games in all competitions this season, as many times as they blanked across their 57 matches in the whole of the 2024-25 campaign.
It is the quickest the Hoops have gone goalless in five games in a season since 1991-92 (also 12 games).
Tounekti, however, believes the disallowed goal completely changed the momentum of the game at Celtic Park.
“It was never a handball, it's crazy that the referee disallowed that,” Tounekti said.
“We watched the video over again and I spoke to Kele about it. I'm really interested in what VAR saw because that was never a handball.
“I think if that goal stood we would win the game 100%.”
Rodgers added: “There's absolutely no way, whatever way you look at it, [Iheanacho] has touched it [with his hand.
“That's a huge moment in the game.”
