Celtic vs Braga ref watch: Three decisions Tobias Stieler got wrong
Celtic fell to a 2-0 Europa League defeat at home to Braga in a game marred by a shock VAR decision that did not go in their favour.
Celtic looked threatening early on as Sebastien Tounekti went close, but Braga soon found an opener as Ricardo Horta’s surprise long-range effort beat Kasper Schmeichel’s despairing dive.
The hosts then struggled to create chances in the first-half before Kelechi Iheanacho thought he had got them back on level terms seven minutes after the break, but his goal was dubiously ruled out after VAR review for handball.
Lukas Hornicek was equal to Tounekti’s stinging drive at goal in the 74th minute as the Hoops seemed most likely to score second, yet it was Braga who doubled their lead in the dying embers as Dane Murray’s clearance hit Gabri Martinez and went into an open net, as it then finished 2-0.
Match referee Tobias Stieler tried to keep players on both sides in line throughout a hotly-contested clash, but he got a number of decisions wrong, and Football Insider have picked out three that should have gone a different way.
Gustaf Lagerbielke not booked after waving an imaginary yellow card
Gustaf Lagerbielke left Celtic to join Braga in the summer after spending last season on loan at FC Twente, and he was lucky not to come away from his Parkhead return with a booking to his name.
He won a free-kick on the right side of his attacking final third, which was rightly given by Stieler, but then got up and waved an imaginary yellow card at the referee to indicate that he should have booked Benjamin Nygren.
UEFA‘s rules state that a player caught waving an imaginary yellow card at a referee must be cautioned with a yellow card for dissent, which Stieler surprisingly failed to do on this occasion.
Callum McGregor deserved a yellow for a bad foul
Another player who should have been booked, but this time for the hosts, was Celtic captain Callum McGregor.
McGregor has struggled to make an impact alongside Reo Hatate this season, and this was no different as Braga’s midfield gave him the run around and he took his anger out on Pau Victor with a cynical foul just past the halfway line only seconds before the half-time whistle.
Stieler did blow for a Braga free-kick as they looked to be on the attack before the challenge, yet didn’t book McGregor even though he definitely should have due to the nature of the tackle and area of the pitch it was in.
Stieler should have gone to the VAR screen for Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal
Celtic thought they had gone level in the 52nd minute as Iheanacho broke free from some poor Braga defending and coolly slotted the ball past Hornicek for 1-1.
The goal was initially given with no complaints from the goalkeeper or defenders, but VAR checked it and ruled it out for handball, deeming that the former Leicester striker had used his arm to guide it into his path.
It was certainly controversial and a very dubious decision, and instead of simply giving the handball based on what the VAR had seen, Stieler should have demanded to go to the screen to see it himself, then a more definite and convincing decision would have been reached.