NEW DELHI: Croatia’s dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Portugal in 2026 FIFA World Cup he was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, a decision that was ultimately decisive in his heartbreaking exit from the tournament.The controversy erupted in the 103rd minute of the Round of 32 match in Toronto. Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol thought he had saved Croatia when he tapped home at the back post to make it 2-2, sparking wild celebrations among the players and fans. However, the celebrations were short-lived.Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was ordered to review the goal after VAR identified a possible offside offense before the move. The key question centered on whether Croatia forward Igor Matanovic had made contact with the ball before it reached Mario Pasalic, who was in an offside position.
Why Croatia’s 103rd-minute equalizer against Portugal was disallowed
After reviewing the footage and consulting the data from the match ball sensor technology, the officials concluded that Matanovic had indeed made the slightest touch on the cross. As Pasalic was in an offside position at the time of Matanovic’s touch, his subsequent involvement in the creation of Gvardiol’s goal was deemed illegal under the Laws of the Game.Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann explained the decision on BBC Sport, saying: “It was offside when the ball was last played by a team-mate and the ball was deflected by the defender and not deliberately played, so it was offside.”Cann also pointed to the use of “Snicko” technology, a waveform system integrated into the match ball that can detect even the slightest contact, adding: “Snicko, which 100% proves that he touched it with the flick-on.”The decision sparked outrage among Croatian players and supporters, many of whom believed Matanovic had not touched the ball. Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic questioned the decision after the match, saying the incident needed further review and clarification.Ultimately, the combination of VAR footage and ball sensor technology proved decisive, denying Croatia a dramatic equalizer and sending Portugal through to the last 16.