VAR controversy: Croatian analysts question 'invisible' decisions after World Cup exit

Croatian football analysts are expressing deep consternation over the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions that heavily influenced the national team's dramatic 1-2 defeat to Portugal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The post-match analysis, featured on HRT's emisija Americana, saw experts like Samir Toplak, Mario Tokić, and Anton Samovojska dissecting the controversial moments that led to the team's exit.

Anton Samovojska, in particular, voiced his astonishment at the minute details scrutinized by VAR. "We have reached an extreme situation, I could never have dreamed of this in my life. That we have to interpret something invisible... It's unbelievable, absolutely shocking to me. Counting strands of hair," he stated, highlighting the perceived absurdity of the decisions. He questioned the interpretation of offside rules, especially concerning a marginal call involving Igor Matanović's hair touching the ball, which led to the disallowance of a crucial goal.

Further fueling the debate was the penalty awarded to Portugal. While the on-field referee initially waved away the appeal, a VAR intervention led to the decision being reversed, resulting in Cristiano Ronaldo's equalizer. Samovojska pointed out the inconsistency, noting that similar situations in the Champions League this season did not result in penalties.

The match was marred by four key VAR interventions. Beyond the penalty and the disallowed Croatian goal, Portugal's initial equalizer came from a penalty after a foul on Veiga, and both Cristiano Ronaldo and Croatia's Petar Sučić had goals disallowed for offside, with VAR confirming the assistant referees' calls. The most contentious moment involved Joško Gvardiol's late equalizer, which would have sent Croatia into extra time, but was ultimately ruled out after VAR determined Matanović had touched the ball with his hair, making Pašalić offside.

Samovojska concluded by expressing his frustration with the level of interpretation required, stating, "Everything was unclear to me. I was furious because of it." The analysts' comments underscore a significant debate about the application and interpretation of VAR technology in high-stakes football matches.