Croatia’s controversial World Cup exit continues to cast a long shadow, with the Croatian FA claiming it has yet to receive a response from FIFA following an official request to release the VAR communications behind the World Cup’s most controversial decision. More than a week after Croatia’s last-32 defeat to Portugal, technical director Stipe Pletikosa said FA president Marjan Kustic had formally asked FIFA to review VAR audio related to Joko Guardiol’s late equalizer in extra time, but insisted the governing body had remained silent. The latest development adds a new chapter to the growing scrutiny of refereeing standards and the implementation of VAR technology at the 2026 World Cup.
Croatia says FIFA remains silent after formal request
Croatia’s World Cup campaign came to a dramatic end against Portugal in the last 32, as Gonzalo Ramos scored the winner in stoppage time to give Portugal a 2-1 lead in the last 32. Zlako Dalic’s side thought they had entered extra time when Josz Guardiol scored in the 103rd minute. Instead, the celebrations were cut short after a lengthy VAR review. Officials ruled that forward Igor Matanovic had a slight touch before the cross reached Mario Pasalic. Guardiol’s equalizing goal was disallowed after Pasalic was ruled offside after his touch changed the phase of the attack. The decision relied on FIFA’s connected ball technology, with sensors inside the Adidas Trionda match ball detecting what Matanovic later described as “a slight contact with my hair”. Croatia accepted FIFA’s technical explanation but raised questions about the application of the technology and whether correct VAR protocols were followed during the review process. talking RTLStipe Pletikosa, technical director of the Croatian Football Association, revealed that Marjan Kustic, the chairman of the Football Association, formally contacted FIFA immediately after the game. “We took an official position and immediately the day after the incident against Portugal, President Custic sent a stern letter to FIFA requesting insight into the VAR communications regarding the infamous chip. To this day we have not received a response.” Pletikosa said.
FIFA defends decision but Croatia wants VAR talks
Following the controversy, FIFA publicly defended its decision to deny Croatia’s goal. Connected Ball Technology ultimately detected Matanovic’s contact before the ball reached Pasalic, football’s governing body said in an official statement. “Data provided by Connected Ball Technology in the Trionda, the official FIFA World Cup match ball, adidas, proves that Croatian player Igor Matanovic made contact before the goal against Portugal, allowing the referee to correctly call it offside and disallow the goal.” FIFA explains. The organization added that an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor inside the match ball is able to identify the slightest contact and display the data to broadcasters via the now-familiar “heartbeat” graphic used throughout the game. While FIFA has explained the technology behind the decision, Croatia’s latest complaint focuses on transparency, with FIFA seeking to understand conversations between on-field officials and the VAR team during the review.
Pletikosa questions FIFA’s handling of tournament
Pletikosa stressed that referees will inevitably make mistakes, but he believes FIFA failed to protect the game during this World Cup. “We have lost the inferiority complex we had when playing against strong teams and hopefully we are no longer in a situation where rankings are determined by other factors.” he said. His criticism then went beyond Croatia’s elimination. “FIFA stopped protecting football for the first time. It has had better, darker times, but it has always protected the game. I’m not talking about referees, they always make mistakes, it’s a normal and integral part of the game.” “But the dehydration, the debris, the 18-minute half-time in the Croatia vs England game… it got to the point where the game was no longer protected. It amazes me that the people working there, who should have recognized the situation and protected the game, did nothing.” Croatia is not the only country to openly challenge referees during the World Cup. After a 3-2 defeat to Argentina in the round of 16, the Egyptian Football Federation filed a formal complaint after questioning multiple VAR decisions, accusing the referee of making “blatant errors” and demanding that the referee and the entire refereeing team be replaced. Fifa chief referee Pierluigi Colina defended match officials in response to wider criticism, saying constructive discussion of decisions was part of football while insisting that allegations questioning referees’ impartiality had no place in the sport. The controversy comes at a transformative time for Croatian football. After Croatia exited the World Cup, Zlatko Dalic ended his tenure by leading Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish in 2022. Former head coach Slaven Bilic has since coached the national team again, having coached the national team from 2006 to 2012.
