‘The World Cup’s most controversial VAR call’: Croatia says FIFA still won’t respond to audio request | Football News
Croatia’s controversial exit from the FIFA World Cup continues in a long shadow after the Croatian Football Federation admitted that they have yet to receive a response from FIFA following an official request to release VAR communications behind the tournament’s most debated decision. More than a week after Croatia’s Round of 32 loss to Portugal, technical director Stipe Pletikosa said federation president Marijan Kustić had formally asked FIFA for access to VAR audio related to Joško Gvardiol’s disallowed extra-time equalizer, but insisted the governing body remained silent. The latest development adds another chapter to the growing scrutiny surrounding refereeing standards and the implementation of VAR technology at the 2026 World Cup.
Croatia said FIFA remained silent after a formal request
Croatia’s World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion against Portugal after Gonçalo Ramos scored a stoppage-time winner to give the Portuguese a 2-1 lead in the Round of 32. Zlatko Dalić’s side believed it had forced extra time when Joško Gvardiol bundled home in the 103rd minute. However, the celebrations were cut short after a lengthy VAR review. The officials ruled that striker Igor Matanović made a slight touch on the cross before it reached Mario Pašalić. Since the touch changed the attacking phase, Pašalić was judged to be in an offside position, which led to Gvardiol’s equalizer being disallowed. The decision relied on FIFA’s Connected Ball Technology, which has sensors inside the Adidas Trionda match ball that detect what Matanović later described as “a little contact with my hair.” Croatia accepted FIFA’s technical explanation but questioned the application of the technology and whether the correct VAR protocol was followed in the review. Talked to RTLCroatian Football Federation technical director Stipe Pletikosa revealed that federation president Marijan Kustić formally contacted FIFA after the match. “We took an official position and immediately the day after the incident in the match with Portugal, President Kustić sent a harsh letter to FIFA, asking for an understanding of the VAR communication about that bad chip. We have not received an answer until now,” Pletikosa said.
FIFA defended the decision, but Croatia wanted VAR talks
After the controversy, FIFA publicly defended the decision to disallow Croatia’s goal. In an official statement, football’s governing body said the Connected Ball Technology perfectly detected the contact from Matanović before the ball reached Pašalić. “According to the data provided by the Connected Ball Technology located inside the Adidas ball Trionda, the official match ball of the FIFA World Cup, it was confirmed that the contact was made by Igor Matanović of Croatia in the build-up to the goal against Portugal, which allowed the referee to correctly determine the offside and disallow the goal,” Explained by FIFA. The organization added that the inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors inside the match ball are able to detect even the slightest touch, with the data shown to broadcasters through the now familiar “heartbeat” graphic used throughout the tournament. While FIFA has already explained the technology behind the decision, Croatia’s latest complaint centers on transparency, with the federation seeking access to conversations between on-field officials and the VAR team during the review.
Pletikosa questioned FIFA’s handling of the tournament
Pletikosa emphasized that referees inevitably make mistakes but argued that FIFA failed to protect the game at this World Cup. “We throw away the feeling of inferiority when we play against big teams and I hope we will not be in a situation where our placement is decided by other things than ourselves,” he said. He then expanded his criticism beyond the removal of Croatia. “FIFA stopped protecting football for the first time. It has better and darker times, but it has always protected the game. I am not talking about the referees, they always make mistakes, it is a normal and important part of the game. “But the hydration break, the chips, the 18-minute half-time of the Croatia-England game… it has become so much that the game is no longer protected. I am surprised that the people who work there, who are supposed to recognize the situations and protect the game, did not react at all.” Croatia is not the only country that has been publicly challenged to officiate during the tournament. Following their dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 loss to Argentina, the Egyptian Football Association filed a formal complaint after questioning several VAR decisions, accusing the officials of making “obvious mistakes” and demanding the dismissal of the referee and the entire officiating crew. Responding to wider criticism, FIFA’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina defended the tournament’s officials, saying that constructive discussion about decisions about football while insisting allegations questioning the integrity of referees have no place in the game. The controversy comes at a time of change in Croatian football. Following the country’s World Cup exit, Zlatko Dalić ended his tenure after leading Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish in 2022. Former manager Slaven Bilić has returned for a second spell in charge, having previously managed the national team between 2006 and 2012.
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