Rodgers furious after disallowed equaliser stalls Celtic's Europa hopes

When Brendan Rodgers, manager of Celtic saw his side lose 2‑0 to Sporting Braga at Celtic Park on 2 October 2025, the contentious decision to disallow a disallowed goal sparked outrage. The match, part of UEFA Europa League Matchday 2Celtic Park, Glasgow, left the Scottish champions with just one point from two games and a lingering sense that destiny had been snatched away.

Match overview: a shaky start for the Bhoys

The opening half‑hour belonged to Braga. A swift counter‑attack saw their forward Gabri Martinez whip a low cross that found Gustaf Lagerbielke, the ex‑Celtic defender now wearing Braga colours. His headed effort slipped under the outstretched arms of Celtic keeper Kieran Tierney, giving Braga a 1‑0 lead at the 23‑minute mark.

Rodgers switched to a more aggressive shape at the break, pulling an extra midfielder forward and urging his attackers to press higher. The change paid off when, just eight minutes into the second half, the ball fell to Kelechi Iheanacho after a mis‑controlled clearance by Lagerbielke. Iheanacho crashed the ball into the net, only for German referee Tobias Stieler to blow the whistle for handball.

The controversial disallowed goal

From the touchline, it looked like a textbook finish. The striker’s face took the brunt of the incoming ball, and the net bulged cleanly. Yet Stieler pointed to the penalty area, and the game stopped for a VAR review. Video assistant referee Christian Dingert spent over two minutes scrutinising multiple angles before confirming the on‑field decision.

Television replays, however, showed no contact between Iheanacho’s arm and the ball. The ball’s trajectory struck his cheek, not his forearm, and his body motion suggested a natural follow‑through. Fans in the stands erupted in boos, while the BBC commentator muttered, “That’s hard to swallow, even for a seasoned eye.”

Rodgers, visibly irked, later told reporters, “I can’t understand why the referee isn’t asked to go and have a look at it. Even if you look at it once, twice … there’s absolutely no way from every angle you look at that he’s touched it. It’s hit his face, he’s gone on and finished it really, really well.”

Rodgers’ reaction and squad morale

After the whistle, the Celtic dressing room felt the weight of a missed opportunity. “I felt we needed to change it at half‑time, so we changed the structure of the team, came out on the front foot really well, had chances and I don’t know why the goal wasn’t given,” Rodgers said. “It’s a real pivotal point in the game. If we get the goal at one‑each, that breeds confidence again. I haven’t had an explanation as to why it wasn’t given.”

The manager’s frustration was mirrored by the players. Midfielder Sebastian Tounekti later admitted, “We were pushing hard, but the decision knocked the wind out of us. It’s hard to stay focused when you feel robbed.”

Even the opposition’s Lagerbielke, who had a hand in the first goal, was asked about the incident. “I’m very happy with the performance of the team in what was a difficult away game,” he said to TNT Sports. “The decision is part of football; we move on.”

Defensive lapses and Braga’s second strike

Pressing on, Celtic threw themselves at the Braga goal. Goalkeeper saves from Tierney kept the scoreline respectable, but a chaotic clearance in the 84th minute turned into a golden chance for Martinez. The ball ricocheted off a Celtic defender’s head and landed at Martinez’s feet, who slotted it home to seal a 2‑0 win.

Rodgers acknowledged the defensive shortcomings: “We continued to press and the keeper’s made a couple of great saves. We couldn’t quite get the goal and of course, at 1‑0 when you’re chasing, we then conceded a disappointing second goal.” The error underscores a pattern Celtic has shown this season—conceding soft goals from set‑piece chaos.

What this means for Celtic’s European campaign

With just one point from two matches, Celtic now sit third in Group E behind Braga (four points) and Belgian side RSC Anderlecht. A win in the final group game against Anderlecht is mathematically required, but the odds are tight. According to former referee Mike Dean (quoted by The Guardian), “When a team loses a clear goal‑scoring chance, it can be a psychological blow that lingers. The real test is whether Celtic can regroup quickly.”

Financially, a knockout‑stage appearance would add roughly €4 million in prize money and boost the club’s coefficient, important for future seeding. The disappointment also reverberates among the fanbase, still smarting from the 2023 domestic league title loss.

Historical context: Celtic in the Europa League

Celtic have a mixed record in Europe’s second‑tier competition. Their best run came in 2021‑22, reaching the quarter‑finals before bowing out to an Italian side. Since the re‑branding of the UEFA Cup to the Europa League in 2009, they have failed to progress beyond the Round of 16. The current group‑stage struggle mirrors the 2014‑15 campaign, where a disputed penalty decision also tipped the balance against them.

Analysts point out that limited squad depth and the rigours of a congested domestic calendar often leave the team vulnerable in European fixtures. Until Rodgers can reinforce the back line—perhaps by signing a centre‑back during the January window—their chances of a deep run remain doubtful.