Croatia's Modric questions VAR after World Cup exit

Following Croatia's elimination from the 2026 World Cup by Portugal, captain Luka Modric voiced strong criticism regarding the use of VAR and the officiating. Two hours after the match, Modric addressed the media, focusing his complaints on a disallowed goal for Josko Gvardiol during injury time, which could have sent the game into extra time, and a penalty awarded to Portugal.

Modric explained that the referee indicated Matanovic had touched the ball before Gvardiol's shot, leading to an offside call. However, Modric asserted that video replays did not confirm any contact, stating, "If he doesn't touch the ball, it's not offside." He also questioned the VAR's intervention on the penalty awarded to Portugal, which Cristiano Ronaldo converted. Modric believes the VAR should not have reviewed that particular play, suggesting an uneven application of officiating standards. "If that action had been the other way around, the VAR would never have intervened," he remarked.

The Croatian captain recalled his previous reservations about VAR's implementation, though he acknowledged its potential usefulness in specific situations. His primary concern lies with the inconsistent manner in which VAR is applied during matches. "VAR should only intervene when there is a very clear error. If the play is in a gray area, there is no point in reviewing the decision," Modric stated.

Regarding the penalty incident, Modric described it as a jostling situation between two players, not a clear foul within the box. "They were both holding and pushing each other. Vlasic did not bring him down; they both ended up falling. You cannot decide a match like this based on an action like that," he argued. Modric emphasized that such decisions significantly impact the team's efforts and can be particularly disheartening for young players competing on a global stage.

Despite the disappointment of elimination, Modric also highlighted Croatia's performance in the second half, urging the team to move past the controversy and take pride in their competitive spirit and representation of Croatia.