FIFA has broken its silence on the controversial VAR decision that cast a pall over Germany’s shock 2026 World Cup exit, insisting a disallowed extra-time goal against Paraguay complied with new refereeing guidelines introduced ahead of the tournament.A day earlier, four-time champion Germany lost 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after drawing 1-1 with Paraguay in the round of 32. A day later, the governing body responded. The decisive moment came in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah headed home what looked like the winning goal, but referee Jalal Jayed overturned the goal after a VAR review by Waldemar Anton for a foul on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.The decision sparked widespread criticism across Germany, but FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina defended the explanation, saying officials had been instructed to punish attackers who deliberately hinder opponents without trying to pass the ball.
FIFA explains controversial VAR decision
Collina told the debate that the incident was in line with guidance issued to referees ahead of the World Cup.Collina said: “While maintaining position is not a foul in itself, when an offensive player is not interested in the ball and deliberately moves, even slightly, with the obvious intention of impeding the opponent’s movement and preventing him from defending, then the referee and VAR should carefully analyze the incident and intervene if necessary.”“This is especially true when the tactic is designed to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from defending the goal.”Also read: After Germany’s World Cup exit, why did Klopp criticize VAR while targeting Arsenal?Collina stressed that the stricter interpretation shouldn’t surprise teams.“The coaches and players were informed, so it’s no surprise that the referees penalized these fouls,” he said.The FIFA chief referee also praised several rule changes introduced at the World Cup to reduce time wastage, including limits on goal kicks, throw-ins and substitutions, and requiring injured players to leave the pitch for one minute.“These measures have been very effective and are unanimously regarded as very positive innovations,” Collina added.
Fury after Germany’s dramatic exit
FIFA later explained Germany legend Thomas Muller launches scathing attack on VARinsisted his team had been denied a legitimate winning goal.“Honestly, I don’t know what VAR is looking at. What penalty is this? The goalkeeper must be the luckiest player on the pitch because from everything I saw, Germany scored a perfectly legal goal,” Muller told Magenta TV.The former Germany striker accused the referees of looking for fouls that didn’t exist.“We Germans feel used and cheated. This is wrong. This is a robbery in broad daylight on football’s biggest stage. If this is a foul, then football has completely lost its consistency because we have seen bigger challenges allowed in all games,” he said.Muller also expressed sympathy for teammate Jonathan Tah, who had a goal disallowed and then missed a penalty in the shootout.“You work your whole life to get to the World Cup, you fight for every ball, you finally score what could have been the winning goal, and then someone sitting in the room a few hundred meters away decides to erase that moment because it’s a decision that millions of people don’t agree with. It’s heartbreaking for every player on the pitch,” he added.He ended by questioning football’s reliance on technology.“I’m okay with losing to a better team. I’m okay with missing out.” But I can’t accept being deprived of a perfect goal because of an explanation that no one understands. Germany deserves better and football deserves better. Now, it feels like we are being punished by technology rather than being protected by technology,” Mueller said.The defeat marked Germany’s earliest ever World Cup exit and their second penalty shootout defeat at a major international tournament, while Paraguay advanced to the last 16 after suffering one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 World Cup.
