Croatia’s controversial FIFA World Cup exit continues to cast a long shadow after the Croatian Football Federation said it has yet to receive a response from FIFA following an official request to release the VAR communications behind the tournament’s most controversial decision. More than a week after Croatia’s round-of-32 defeat in Portugal, technical director Stipe Pletikosa says federation president Marijan Kustić has formally asked FIFA for access to VAR audio in relation to Joško Gvardiol’s extra-time equaliser, but insists the governing body has been silent. The latest development adds another chapter to the growing scrutiny surrounding refereeing standards and the implementation of VAR technology at the 2026 World Cup.
Croatia says FIFA remained silent after the formal request
Croatia’s World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion against Portugal after Gonçalo Ramos scored a stoppage-time winner to give the Portuguese a 2-1 lead in the Round of 32. Zlatko Dalić’s side believed they had forced extra time when Joško Gvardiol headed home in the 103rd minute. Instead, the celebrations were cut short after a lengthy VAR review. The officials ruled that striker Igor Matanović had made the slightest touch on the cross before it reached Mario Pašalić. Because the touch altered the attacking phase, Pašalić was judged to be in an offside position, leading to Gvardiol’s equalizer being cancelled. The decision was based on FIFA’s Connected Ball Technology, with sensors in the Adidas Trionda match ball detecting what Matanović later described as only “slight contact with my hair”. Croatia accepted FIFA’s technical explanation but questioned both the application of the technology and whether the correct VAR protocol had been followed during the review. Speaking to RTLthe technical director of the Croatian Football Federation Stipe Pletikosa revealed that the president of the federation Marijan Kustić formally contacted FIFA immediately after the match. “We took an official position and immediately the day after the incident in the match with Portugal, President Kustić sent a harsh letter to FIFA, asking for insight into the VAR communication regarding that infamous chip. We have not received an answer to this day.” Pletikosa said.
FIFA defended the decision, but Croatia wants VAR talks
After the controversy, FIFA publicly defended the decision to disallow Croatia’s goal. In an official statement, the football organization said that the Connected Ball Technology conclusively detected Matanović’s contact before the ball reached Pašalić. “According to the data provided by Connected Ball Technology housed in the Adidas Trionda ball, the official ball of the FIFA World Cup, it was proven that the contact was made by Croatia’s Igor Matanović in the construction of the goal against Portugal, which allows the referee to correctly determine the offside and disallow the goal.” FIFA explained. The organization added that inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors in the match ball are able to identify even the slightest touches, with the data displayed to broadcasters through the now-famous “heartbeat” graphic used throughout the tournament. While FIFA has already explained the technology behind the decision, Croatia’s latest complaint centers on transparency, with the federation seeking access to conversations between on-field officials and the VAR team during the review.
Pletikosa questions FIFA’s handling of the tournament
Pletikosa insisted that referees will inevitably make mistakes, but said FIFA has failed to protect the game during this World Cup. “We have removed the feeling of inferiority when we play against the big teams and I hope that we will no longer be in a situation where our place is decided by other things than ourselves.” I said He then extended his criticism beyond the elimination of Croatia. “FIFA has stopped protecting football for the first time. It has had better and darker periods, but it has always protected the game. I am not talking about the referees, they have always made mistakes, it is a normal and integral part of the game. “But the hydration break, the chips, the 18 minutes of half time in the Croatia-England game… it has gone so far that the game is no longer protected. I am surprised that the people who work here, who have to recognize situations and protect the game, do not react at all.” Croatia is not the only nation that publicly challenged the official during the tournament. After their dramatic 3-2 defeat in Argentina, the Egyptian Football Association filed a formal complaint after questioning several VAR decisions, accusing officials of making “flagrant errors” and calling for the removal of the referee and all officiating equipment. In response to the wider criticism, FIFA’s head of refereeing Pierluigi Collina defended the tournament’s officials, saying that constructive discussion about decisions is part of football while insisting that allegations questioning the integrity of referees have no place in the sport. The controversy comes during a period of change for Croatian football. Following the country’s World Cup exit, Zlatko Dalić ended his tenure after leading Croatia to the 2018 World Cup finals and a third-place finish in 2022. Former manager Slaven Bilić has since returned for a second spell in charge, having managed the national team between 2006 and 2012.