FIFA has broken its silence on the controversial VAR decision that overshadowed Germany’s shock exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the disallowed extra-time goal against Paraguay was in line with new refereeing guidelines introduced ahead of the tournament.The governing body responded a day after the four-time champions of Germany crashed out in the Round of 32, losing 4-3 on penalties to Paraguay after a 1-1 draw. The defining moment came in the 101st minute, when Jonathan Tah slotted home what looked to be the winning goal, only for referee Jalal Jayed to wave it off after a VAR review for a foul by Waldemar Anton on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.The decision drew widespread criticism across Germany, but FIFA’s chief referee Pierluigi Collina defended the interpretation, saying officials had been instructed to punish forwards who deliberately obstructed opponents without attempting to play the ball.
FIFA explains the controversial VAR decision
Addressing the debate, Collina said the incident corresponded to the guidance issued to referees before the World Cup.“Although maintaining a position is not a foul per se, when an attacker is not interested in the ball and moves deliberately, even marginally, with the clear intention of obstructing the movement of the opponents and preventing them from defending, then the referees, and the VAR when necessary, must properly analyze the incident and intervene,” said Collina.“This is especially the case when the tactic aims to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from being able to defend the goal.”READ ALSO: Why Klopp targeted Arsenal as he slammed VAR after Germany’s World Cup exitCollina insisted that the stricter interpretation should not surprise the teams.“The coaches and players have been informed, so it should not be surprising that the referees will punish these fouls,” he said.FIFA’s refereeing chief also praised several rule changes introduced at the tournament to reduce time-wasting, including limits on goal kicks, throw-ins and substitutions, as well as requiring injured players to remain off the pitch for one minute.“These measures have all been very effective and unanimously considered as very positive innovations,” added Collina.
Germany furious after dramatic exit
FIFA’s explanation came later German legend Thomas Muller has launched a fierce attack on VARinsisting that his side had been denied a legitimate winning goal.“Honestly, they don’t know what VAR is looking for anymore. What call is that? The goalkeeper must be the luckiest player on the pitch because, from everything I saw, Germany scored a perfectly legitimate goal,” Muller told Magenta TV.The former Germany striker accused the officials of looking for a foul that did not exist.“We, the Germans, feel used and cheated. This is wrong. This is a day robbery on the biggest stage in football. If this is a foul, then football has completely lost its consistency because we have seen much stronger challenges that allow all tournaments,” he said.Muller also sympathized with teammate Jonathan Tah, whose disallowed goal was followed by a missed penalty in the shootout.“You work all your life to play in a World Cup, fight for every ball, finally score what could be the winning goal, and then someone sitting in a room hundreds of meters away decides to erase that moment for a decision that millions of people do not agree with.I concluded by questioning football’s trust in technology.“I can accept losses to the best team. I can accept the missing chances. But I cannot accept that a perfectly good goal is thrown out because of an interpretation that no one understands. Germany deserves better than this, and football deserves better than this. Now, it seems we’ve been punished by technology instead of protected by it,” Muller said.The defeat marked Germany’s first World Cup exit and only their second defeat in a penalty shootout at a major international tournament, while Paraguay progressed to the Round of 16 after one of the biggest clashes of the 2026 competition.