ZAGREB — The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) has lodged an official protest with FIFA, alleging “abuse of technology” after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention nullified a potential equalising goal in its 2022 World Cup knockout match against Portugal.
The complaint, filed on Thursday, cites the 78th‑minute incident in which a Croatian player appeared to score from a set‑piece, only for VAR to overturn the decision on the grounds of a perceived off‑side infringement. HNS argues that the review process was “erroneously applied” and that the technology was used inconsistently, compromising the fairness of the match.
FIFA’s official statements, released shortly after the game, maintained that the VAR correctly applied the existing protocol and that the decision to disallow the goal was in line with the Laws of the Game. The governing body did not comment on the pending complaint.
Portugal advanced to the quarter‑finals after a 2‑1 victory, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the decisive goal. Croatia’s exit follows a series of contentious VAR calls that have drawn criticism from multiple national federations since the tournament’s opening.
Analysis: The Croatian federation’s grievance underscores growing tensions over VAR’s role in high‑stakes matches. While FIFA asserts that its officials adhered to standardized procedures, the complaint suggests a perceived lack of transparency in the technology’s deployment. If FIFA upholds the protest, it could prompt a review of VAR guidelines and potentially influence future tournament protocols. However, FIFA’s past handling of similar disputes has typically affirmed the correctness of on‑field decisions after thorough internal review, making a reversal unlikely.
Sources
– Google News India – Sports, “After World Cup Exit, Croatia Files Official Complaint To FIFA Against ‘Abuse Of Technology’,” accessed via RSS feed. https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2gFBVV95cUxQZVBWUmMzZVQwNzFpSHVpYkN0Rm1CSDZqZEFiOEg0WHBZbzJiNXpaY0RoUnhrR2JKbG1qQ3laTjU3NGhlVTFzUXVCTV8zeXpmV2lkYnMtellvdEJfUEM5MWJlckFPOE00R1p6SlIxRTgta01wc2ZGYVJwTjdDZFlYS1VnajVEck9qUXRDc1JxekQyNmpfbEpDUFk3TWxMS2JnX0FaMkxYaDU1LUdQMm1SR0JBM2tPcWpicXpod0hsLWpFTnRkeXVNOGpZaGJleWd0Zg?oc=5
Story synopsis gathered from: Google News India – Sports — source
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