NEW DELHI: Croatia’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Portugal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup was ruled out after a lengthy VAR review, a decision that ultimately proved decisive in their heartbreaking exit from the tournament.The controversy unfolded in the 103rd minute of the Round of 32 clash in Toronto. Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol thought he had rescued Croatia when he tapped home at the back post to make it 2-2, triggering wild celebrations among players and fans alike. However, the celebrations were short-lived.Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was instructed to review the goal after VAR identified a possible offside infringement earlier in the move. The key question centred on whether Croatia forward Igor Matanovic had made contact with the ball before it reached Mario Pasalic, who was standing in an offside position.
Why Croatia’s 103rd-minute equaliser against Portugal was ruled out
After reviewing the footage and consulting data from the match ball’s sensor technology, the officials concluded that Matanovic had indeed made the slightest touch on the cross. Since Pasalic was in an offside position at the moment of Matanovic’s touch, his subsequent involvement in setting up 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: “He 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 the offside stands.”Cann also pointed to the use of “Snicko” technology, a waveform system embedded within the match ball that can detect even the slightest contact, adding: “Snicko, that 100% proves that he touched it with the flick-on.”The ruling 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 required further review and clarification.Ultimately, the combination of VAR footage and ball sensor technology proved decisive, denying Croatia a dramatic equaliser and sending Portugal through to the last 16.
