Croatia have filed complaint with FIFA after their dramatic FIFA World Cup Round of 32 elimination against Portugal, accusing world football’s governing body of allowing technology to undermine the spirit of the game following a controversial VAR intervention.
Croatia’s World Cup campaign ended in heartbreaking 1-2 defeat to Portugal after what appeared to be Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time equaliser was ruled out following an extended VAR review. Although the goal initially stood, referee Espen Eskas overturned the decision after data from FIFA’s Trionda match ball indicated a minute touch from Igor Matanovic’s hair, resulting in an offside offence.
The decision sparked outrage among Croatian players and supporters, with the Croatian Football Federation (HNS) arguing that such microscopic data should not dictate match-defining moments. The federation has now written to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, questioning whether the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operated within its intended “clear and obvious error” threshold.
Croatia also raised concerns over the VAR review that led to Portugal’s 68th-minute penalty, which Cristiano Ronaldo converted to level the score.
FIFA defends VAR
Defending the technology, FIFA said in a statement, as quoted by Goal.com: “IMU sensors housed within the Trionda ball are capable of determining any slight contact, displayed to viewers in the broadcast as a ‘heartbeat graphic,’ and allowing officials an unprecedented level of data to make fast, accurate decisions.”
However, HNS insists the issue is not the technology itself, but how it was applied.
HNS spokesperson Tomislav Pacak told RTL Danas, as quoted by Goal.com: “The Croatian Football Association sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino in which we expressed deep disappointment and disagreement with the match with Portugal, not because of the refereeing decisions as such, because they can be discussed after every match, but because of the process itself that led to those decisions.
“To begin with, we believe that the VAR protocol was completely incorrectly applied to the penalty kick for Portugal, and the referee should not have been called to review the footage. And more importantly, with Guardiola’s equalizer, Pasalic was awarded offside against the rules and spirit of football due to Matanovic’s non-existent ball play, because the sensor showed so.
“We believe that this is an abuse of technology, which we welcome in football, but we believe that this application is not beneficial to FIFA, teams and football fans, and we know that our letter will not reduce the pain and disappointment of fans and players, but we believe that it is important to warn FIFA and request a detailed explanation of all decisions,” Tomislav said.