The Scottish club's Video Assistant Referee Controversy: Victims of Technology or Just Inadequate in Braga Defeat?

Kelechi Iheanacho described it as "a terrible call". Fellow player Tounekti stated it was "unbelievable". Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart chose "absurd".

The Celtic boss expressed frustration at what turned out as a "crucial incident" when the Scottish side saw an Iheanacho goal disallowed shortly after halftime in their Europa League match.

The Nigerian believed he had equalised for the home side when he struck a left-footed shot into the opposite side after bursting through a weak defensive challenge.

However, after a lengthy review, VAR Christian Dingert instructed the match official to disallow the goal because of a suspected handball, despite replays seeming to indicate the ball hitting the player's head.

"It never touched my hand, and that altered the game," Iheanacho stated.

Combine that with a few excellent saves by Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek and the frustration is likely justified.

However during the match, the Scottish champions made errors of their own.

In the 20th minute, a shot from Horta from long range swerved and dropped towards Kasper Schmeichel's goal, but the veteran keeper misjudged it and was left sprawled on the turf as the visiting Braga players celebrated the opener.

Another defensive mess in the latter period resulted in Dane Murray's attempted clearance ricocheting off the Braga player and into the back of the net.

It wasn't much better going forward for Rodgers' side, who played much of the final 45 minutes with their leading scorer from previous campaign - the Japanese international - at right wing-back.

Celtic failed to score for the fifth time in a dozen matches this season - the identical tally in which they drew a blank in the whole of last season.

The Celtic manager changed to a back three at half-time in an attempt to find a spark, with the forward dropping into a more defensive position and Marcelo Saracchi replacing the starting player.

Celtic did improve and when Iheanacho beat Braga goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, the hosts were the team dominating.

This positive spell was halted by a lengthy video review, the result of which was incomprehensible to most - if not all - at Parkhead.

Ex-Celtic champion Hart - on broadcasting work - was certain the goal would be allowed at the time of the incident.

"We have video technology checking for handball potentially spoiling everyone's fun, but actually, it comes off his head," Hart commented.

"Why would they possibly be waiting for? They must be seeing a alternative angle to me. What are we delaying the game for? This is unacceptable."

Speaking afterwards, those in the home dressing room were equally perplexed. "There was never a handball, it's crazy that the official disallowed that," the midfielder stated.

"We reviewed the video multiple times and I spoke to Iheanacho about it. I'm very curious in what VAR saw because that was never a handball."

"I think if that goal was allowed we would win the game without doubt."

Rodgers, too, was baffled at how the officials arrived at the decision they did.

"There's absolutely no way, however you view it, [the player] has made contact [with his hand]," the Celtic manager stated. "That's a huge moment in the game."

The majority of the post-match focus was on the disallowed effort, but Schmeichel's mistake handed the initiative to the Portuguese side.

Horta's shot had an expected-goals value of just 0.027, but it got past the 38-year-old goalkeeper's grasp.

"He must be extremely upset with it," the manager commented. "That was a decent shot and it's obviously moved a bit, but I haven't spoken to him about it."

Beyond the mistakes at the back, this was another match where the team have struggled offensively this season.

The Japanese player is being played out of position to make space for Tounekti, while all central partnerships Rodgers has tried has lacked cutting edge and intensity.

The team failed to break down their previous opponents over three-and-a-half hours as they dropped out of the European competition.

This represents the earliest point into a season in which Celtic have had five games without scoring since the early nineties.

Fans have pointed out the apparent shortage of transfer ambition in the off-season.

But the team's problems date back to last winter, when they nearly defeated the German giants before being knocked out of the Champions League.

Since then, they have been unable to victory in almost half their games in every tournament.

"That was a disappointing display from Celtic," ex-international McFadden commented. "Lacking quality, something we're not used to seeing with Celtic."

"I think the tactical adjustment at half-time provided some improvement, but in the end Braga earned their victory."

Defensive errors and a lack of offensive threat is rarely a successful formula.

"Insufficient urgency for me," former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner commented. "Possession play is acceptable, moving it around, but not enough genuine purpose in that attacking area."

"Not able to defend and big, big mistakes from Schmeichel."