FIFA explains waiving Croatia game-tying goal in massive World Cup controversy

Virtually no one is happy with FIFA’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which called back Croatia’s game-tying goal in the 12th minute of stoppage time Thursday in their 2-1 loss to Portugal.

Joško Gvardiol seemed to tie the game after a cross from Ivan Perišić appeared to hit Portuguese center-back Renato Veiga, thus preventing a possible offsides.

After a lengthy review brought on by FIFA’s VAR, it was determined that the ball grazed the head of Igor Matanović and reset the offside line before Gvardiol blasted the ball into the back of the net.

FIFA announced a new technology called “Connected Ball Technology” with IMU sensors inside the Adidas ball that detect when the ball is touched.

Despite the ball not appearing to be touched by Matanović, the technology apparently confirmed that he redirected the ball ever so slightly and reset the offside line.

This ball apparently grazed Igor Matanović’s head.

“it was proven that contact was made by Croatia’s #20 Igor Matanović in the build-up to the goal against Portugal, allowing the referee to correctly determine offside and disallow the goal,” FIFA media’s X account handle posted after fans went wild about the disallowed goal.

“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.”

It’s not the first time that technology has been an issue in this year’s World Cup.

Referees appeared to misuse VAR to review Folarin Balogun’s challenge on a loose ball before eventually giving the USA star a red card and suspending him for Monday’s Round of 16 match against Belgium.

VAR also called back a Colombian goal by Davinson Sánchez, which was offside by no more than a few centimeters after they scored in stoppage time in what turned out to be a 0-0 tie in the Group K match.

The technology, while useful, appears to have upset some onlookers who believe the negligible contact or slimmest of margins calls were having a negative effect on the game.

The ball registered a marginal touch in extra time on Thursday.

Still, the idea of getting the call right makes sense in theory, and these sensors, which do not exist in American sports yet, will surely be given a close look by the NBA and NFL going forward.

Portugal will face now face Spain in the Round of 16.