Legendary Ibra slams FIFA: 'You can't hide behind technology'

Football legend Zlatan Ibrahimović has sharply criticized the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, particularly after a controversial offside call denied Iran a late winning goal against Egypt in the World Cup. Ibrahimović, working as a pundit for FOX Sports during the tournament, argued that VAR is increasingly generating disputes rather than resolving them.

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This is precisely why people are losing faith in VAR. They told us it was introduced to correct obvious errors, but instead, it creates even greater controversies on the biggest stage in football. This is simply unacceptable.

"This is precisely why people are losing faith in VAR," Ibrahimović stated. "They told us it was introduced to correct obvious errors, but instead, it creates even greater controversies on the biggest stage in football. This is simply unacceptable."

He emphasized the gravity of such decisions, noting that a single call can significantly impact a team's World Cup fate. Ibrahimović expressed disbelief at the offside decision, questioning the certainty behind it. "If you are going to disallow a goal that can decide a nation's fate at the World Cup, you must be one hundred percent sure, not guessing behind a monitor," he asserted.

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If you are going to disallow a goal that can decide a nation's fate at the World Cup, you must be one hundred percent sure, not guessing behind a monitor. Millions of Iranians celebrated a historic moment, and then a group of officials took it all away in seconds. You didn't just disallow a goal; you stole a dream from a nation. You cannot hide behind technology when it is used incorrectly. This is not justice; this is incompetence.

Ibrahimović lamented the emotional toll on fans and players, describing the moment as stealing a dream from millions of Iranians. "You didn't just disallow a goal; you stole a dream from a nation. You cannot hide behind technology when it is used incorrectly. This is not justice; this is incompetence," he declared. He concluded by stating that football, its players, and especially its fans deserve a higher standard of officiating on the world's most important stage.

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If this is the standard of officiating at the most important football competition in the world, then something is seriously wrong. Football deserves better, players deserve better, and above all, fans deserve much more.