Keith Hackett blasts VAR after controversial Juventus vs Galatasaray footage is analysed
Keith Hackett has insisted that Lloyd Kelly should not have been sent off in Juventus’ 7-5 aggregate defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday.
The Italian giants were on the verge of completing a stunning comeback in the Champions League knockout playoffs as they came from 5-2 down in the first leg to force extra time at the Allianz Stadium.
This proved to be as far as they could go, as Galatasaray scored twice in extra time to lose 3-2 on the night but win 7-5 overall.
However, Juventus will have felt that they could have completed the comeback if Kelly had not been sent off for a dubious challenge in the second half, which forced the hosts to play an hour of action with 10 players.
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Keith Hackett: VAR should not have intervened over Lloyd Kelly foul
Early in the second half, Kelly was given a second yellow card after he landed on Baris Yilmaz after jumping for a header.
However, VAR was quick to intervene and advised referee Joao Pinheiro to upgrade this to a straight red after a review.
This decision was highly unpopular, with Hackett exclusively telling Football Insider that the intervention of VAR was wrong, with the foul not being a clear and obvious error.
Lloyd Kelly receives a straight red card after VAR review for a challenge on Yılmaz 🔴@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/9v1LiIvVJJ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 25, 2026
He said: “The judgment initially of awarding a yellow card should not have then resulted in the intervention of VAR.
“The referee had made his decision, which was not a clear and obvious error.
“Certainly not a red card.”
What was the pundit’s reaction to Kelly’s red card?
Kelly’s dismissal was certainly contentious.
There appeared to be no malice in the action, and it was just unfortunate that the defender made contact with Yilmaz on the way down.
As a result, many pundits at the time were furious with the decision, including Curtis Davies.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on 25 February, the former Derby County defender was quick to come to Kelly’s support, believing that VAR was also wrong to intervene.
He said: “Absolute disgrace of a decision. Lloyd Kelly goes up for a header, he’s gone for the header cleanly. His feet have to land on the ground somewhere. Unfortunately, he lands on the player.
“There needs to be a level of understanding. Where is he meant to put his feet?
“I understand Lloyd Kelly’s frustration. For me, the contest has just been ruined by the referee.”
Now, Galatasaray will face either Liverpool or Tottenham in the Champions League round of 16, as they prepare to enter this stage of the competition for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign.