The Role of VAR and Connected Ball Technology
The tournament has been defined as much by the hum of video assistant referee systems as by the skill of the players, with connected‑ball sensors feeding real‑time data to officials and, increasingly, to the public eye.
Switzerland’s Breel Embolo was sent off in the quarterfinal against Argentina after a "clear simulation" was flagged under the mistaken‑identity rule, a decision that hinged on a review initiated by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes, who had been shown a yellow card.
Germany’s Jonathan Tah saw a potential match‑winning goal nullified in extra time against Paraguay because a foul on the goalkeeper was confirmed by VAR, while Croatia’s late equalizer against Portugal was erased after a sensor detected a slight touch that placed the ball just offside.
Egypt’s hopes were also curtailed when a goal against Argentina was disallowed following a VAR‑verified foul on Lisandro Martinez, and Norway’s campaign faced a similar fate when Erling Haaland’s challenge on Elliot Anderson was deemed a foul by the video officials.
Coaches and national federations have voiced growing criticism, questioning whether the technology is preserving the spirit of the game or turning every marginal incident into a decisive moment.
FIFA’s referees chief Pierluigi Collina has defended the rulings, emphasizing that there is no fixed limit on the distance or time between an incident and a goal for VAR intervention, and that the system aims for consistency rather than arbitrary thresholds.
The broader conversation extends beyond individual matches, touching on the influence of high‑profile figures such as Julian Nagelsmann, Jurgen Klopp, Luka Modrić, and Zlatko Dalić, who have all weighed in on the evolving dynamics of officiating.