Ibrahimovic slams VAR decision
Legendary footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has strongly criticized the VAR decision that disallowed Croatia's late equalizer against Portugal in the FIFA World Cup 2026, calling it a 'robbery.' The goal, scored by Josko Gvardiol in the 99th minute, would have forced extra time but was overturned after Connected Ball Technology detected a minimal touch from Croatia's Matanovic on Ivan Perisic's cross. Ibrahimovic argued that the touch did not affect play and that Portugal defender Renato Veiga had touched the ball, which should have nullified any offside.
Ibrahimovic's statement
'It was a fantastic match ruined in the end by VAR. I saw nothing irregular about the 2-2 goal; VAR disallowed it, but for me, it was a robbery. Either the sensor in the ball wasn't working, or something went wrong, because Renato Veiga touched the ball, which means there was no offside. Look at the angle: Croatia's number 20 doesn't touch the ball, nor does he change its trajectory in the slightest. It's Portugal's number 13 [Veiga] who touches it!' Ibrahimovic said while speaking to Italian outlet Gazzetta, as reported by Goal.com.
Match details
Portugal had taken a 2-1 lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time through a header from Goncalo Ramos. Croatia thought they had equalized nine minutes later when Gvardiol scored, sparking celebrations. However, referee Espen Eskas was called to the pitchside monitor after Connected Ball Technology registered a slight touch from Matanovic, reportedly as minimal as a brush off his hair. The touch was not visible in television replays but proved decisive. It meant that Mario Pasalic had received the ball from a teammate while in an offside position before setting up Gvardiol, leading to the goal being overturned and ending Croatia's hopes of a comeback.
Impact and reactions
The decision sparked controversy, with Ibrahimovic's comments adding to the debate over the use of technology in football. The match was a crucial Group stage encounter in the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the outcome allowed Portugal to secure qualification. Croatia, on the other hand, was left frustrated by the decision, which many felt was too marginal to overturn the goal. The incident highlights the ongoing discussion about the balance between technology and the spirit of the game.
