Viewing Thread:
"Celtic Dropped Into UEFA Cup - Unfairly?"

Celtic were beaten by Lyon tonight - 3-2.
But there was a penalty in which hand ball was claimed, when it wasn't at all.
I'm fairly pished off at this. As you can imagine, Martin O'Neill is fuming. For once, a Scottish team are doing pretty well in Europe, and then to go crashing out of the Champions league so unfairly is terrible.
It happens all the time, sure, but it shouldn't be happening at all in such a high-profile tournament, and with what's at stake.

Grr.

the draw is later today for both CL and UEFA. I thought the draw started at 10:30 but its just the program. looks like im gonna have to go to school....

Whether they deserve it or not, at least their back in the UEFA Cup again, where they shone so-much in the competition, last season.

They're not cut-out for the Champions' League, and neither are Rangers. But that is only what you can expect for teams playing in Scotland, against only the likes of Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle - not an Arsénal, Newcastle or even Tottenham Hotspur in-sight.


Face it: If they were to have qualified and reached the knock-out stages, they'd have struggled to get past the quarter-finals anyway. Bayern Munich, Deportivo, Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad... Any-one of those would prove a real test for Martin O'Neil's Celtic.

But the "Waffer" Cup is a step-down from the Champions' League. And, up against teams of a slightly-lower class, Celtic are better-suited to this European competition, due to their lack of top-draw European experience.


Good luck to them in the UEFA Cup, again, anyway.
This is Henrik Larsson's last season in Scotland - let's hope they can make it his best yet, instead of just another dissapointment! :)

He's got a long-term injury has he not, with a hernhiaa.
Hernhhiaaa.
And I know that is completely wrong.
But what the hell.

Yeah, Hedman is a bit rubbish. I don't see why they've ditched Douglas for him.

stuffy goals or not......Juninho is world class! And he dosent get a sniff on the national squad. Douglas would of saved that anyway, and Scotland need him to play first team football so...y'know

They have more chance of doing well in the UEFA Cup, though, as there are some quality teams left in the Champions League.

I think Celtic would rather get to the final of the UEFA Cup again than be put out in the 2nd Round of the Champions League.

I just saw a proper replay.
Looks as if the flight was affected a little.
Pah.

It was going wide anyway.
;)

Well Sky Sports says;

"Celtic hearts were then broken with just minutes remaining when the referee judged that Balde handled the ball as Sidney Govou rose for a header but replays showed the defender's hand made only the slightest contact."

Slightest of contact.
You saw on the replay that it "skiffed" - made contact, but the flight of the ball wasn't affected at all. Accidental too, by the looks of things.

Azul wrote:

But there was a penalty in which hand ball was claimed, when it wasn't at all.

---

AliBoy wrote:

As a scot I thought it was a little harsh at first but looking back the header was going in the direction of the goal and it hit Balde's arm.

---

Don or†ega wrote:

Seen penalties given for much less than that.
----------------

So who's actually right here? :/

Seen penalties given for much less than that.