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

Ronnie 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'GettyAteba Gautier was called the 'future' by Joe Rogan, but he's more interested in what his cats thinkMike Roach/Zuffa LLC

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Neymar completely loses his head as officials make unbelievable never-before-seen mistake

    Neymar exploded on the pitch and went straight up to the TV cameras to vent after the costly error.

    Football
  • Getty
    2 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso's job title changed by Chelsea as he signs four year contract

    Xabi Alonso was confirmed as Chelsea's new manager, just one day after their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Man Utd confirm second player departure after Casemiro's final home game

    Manchester United have confirmed the exit of a second player as Old Trafford bids farewell to Casemiro.

    Football
  • Getty & Instagram/@kondraaa
    3 hours ago

    PSG star's wife responds after adult film actress makes Champions League final offer

    The PSG star received the offer from a well-known adult star and his other half responded.

    Football
  • 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
  • World Cup final ticket is selling for £8.5 million despite having one of the worst seats in the stadium