sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Huge VAR controversy at the World Cup as Croatia vs Belgium decision dubbed the 'worst ever'
Home>Football
Updated 16:24 1 Dec 2022 GMTPublished 15:47 1 Dec 2022 GMT

Huge VAR controversy at the World Cup as Croatia vs Belgium decision dubbed the 'worst ever'

Croatia thought they had a penalty against Belgium only for the tightest of offside calls to rule it out.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Fans have been left fuming after an offside call in the Croatia vs Belgium game was branded "the worst ever".

Croatia started the brighter of the two sides in the final Group F clash and thought they had a penalty when Andrej Kramaric was fouled by Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and a spot-kick was awarded.

Captain Luka Modric placed the ball and was ready to face Real Madrid teammate Thibaut Courtois. However, there was then a lengthy delay as referee Anthony Taylor was instructed to go to the VAR screen.

Advert

Officials checked for a possible offside in the build-up to the penalty incident and the semi-automated offside technology found that Dejan Lovren was off by the slightest of margins.


It was genuinely one of the tightest and harshest decisions ever seen, with the graphic showing that Lovren was only off by fingertips if anything.

While the call was technically correct, fans are beginning to grow frustrated with the way in which offsides are judged at present.

One user wrote: "What part of the body are they using to measure this? Shoulder?... Do they just randomly determine the most 'shouldery' part or the shoulder?"

Another said: "Scrap the line drawing marginal offsides in favour of the attacking team. It’s for the good of the game. This is so tight it would never have been called offside before the introduction of VAR.Time to tweak the rule."

A third added: "Can players not be level anymore?"

A fourth commented: "If I can’t tell who is offside from this image then it’s probably not offside."

As it stands, despite the controversy, both Croatia and Morocco are heading through to the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, the French FA are reportedly complaining to FIFA after Antoine Griezmann's goal was disallowed despite play resuming.

The IFAB – football's lawmakers – say a VAR check cannot overturn a goal once play has restarted.

Featured Image Credit: FIFA

Topics: Croatia, Belgium, Football World Cup

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Recommended reads

Thierry Henry picks player who will surprise everyone at World Cup – ‘There’s a guy people don’t know about...’GettyRonnie O’Sullivan says snooker star can win 'multiple world titles' and gives update on futureGetty'The only thing he can do is now is tar his career...' - Arnold Allen gives damning verdict on Conor McGregor's comebackGetty ImagesGareth Barry on Thomas Tuchel advice, England squad picks and World Cup: 'He’ll be fighting'Getty

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Croatia announce 26-man World Cup squad as decisions made on Modric and Gvardiol

    The European nation begin their tournament against England on June 17.

    Football
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Jamie Carragher reignites Mo Salah feud branding Liverpool man selfish live on MNF

    Salah demanded a return to 'heavy metal football' in an apparent parting swipe at Arne Slot

    Football
  • Getty
    3 hours ago

    PGMO reveal whether Man Utd 'handball' against Nottingham Forest was the wrong decision as update issued

    Bryan Mbeumo handball should have seen Man Utd goal disallowed, admits referees' body

    Football
  • Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Spain rocked by fresh World Cup injury worry involving key star as Lamine Yamal set to miss opener

    Yet another selection headache for Luis de la Fuente ahead of the announcement of his 26-man squad on May 25.

    Football
  • Croatia announce 26-man World Cup squad as decisions made on Modric and Gvardiol
  • Belgium announce final World Cup squad and it's the end of the 'Golden Generation'
  • Belgium wonderkid switched allegiance days before World Cup squad and can't play at tournament
  • Brazil prepared to leave out huge name to bring Neymar to World Cup and it'll cause controversy