Croatia send letter to FIFA over 'abuse of technology' after Portugal VAR decision | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Croatia’s football federation has written to FIFA president Gianni Infantino seeking explanations for the refereeing in their 2-1 World Cup last 32 defeat by Portugal. It condemned the VAR protocol as totally wrong and the process that led to the decisions.

The flashpoint was Josko Gvardiol’s stoppage-time equaliser at 90+13, ruled out after a VAR review. The defender thought he had forced extra time.

Officials judged Igor Matanovic had brushed the ball, which left Mario Pasalic, who fed Gvardiol, in an offside position. To the naked eye the deviation was imperceptible.

The following day, the Snicko microchip in the Connected Ball used in the Trionda indicated contact by number 20 Igor Matanovic, though Luka Modric argued there was no proof he touched the ball. On Monday 6 July, four days after the defeat, the federation went public with a letter expressing deep disappointment and disagreement with the process rather than the decisions.

It also questioned the VAR use for Portugal’s penalty, converted by Cristiano Rolando. On the disallowed equaliser it said Pasalic was flagged offside against the laws and spirit of the game for a non-existent Matanovic intervention, calling it an abuse of technology. The same device drew attention in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia when Mattias Svanberg’s 84th-minute goal stood, and at Euro 2024 when Romelu Lukaku had a goal ruled out.

Source: L'Équipe