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VAR Disallows Croatia Goal in Stoppage Time and Awards Belgium Penalty After Seven-Minute Review
Referees and video assistants overturned a late equalizer for Croatia against Portugal and awarded Belgium a penalty against Senegal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Connected Ball Technology and an extended review process shaped both outcomes.
TH
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Referee Espen Eskas and VAR Jarred Gillett disallowed a Croatia goal by Joško Gvardiol in the 103rd minute of a match against Portugal. The score stood at 2-1 to Portugal in stoppage time when the decision was made. Connected Ball Technology detected a touch by Croatia striker Igor Matanović immediately before Mario Pašalić was ruled offside.
The ball then deflected off Portugal defender Renato Veiga's head. Under Law 11, an unintentional deflection does not reset the offside phase, so the goal was disallowed. In a separate match, referee Saíd Martínez and VAR Guillermo Pacheco Larios awarded Belgium a penalty in the 118th minute against Senegal.
Belgium's Youri Tielemans was challenged by Senegal's Lamine Camara during a cross into the penalty area. The referee initially awarded nothing in real time. The VAR recommended an on-field review after determining that Camara made contact with the back of Tielemans' calf without playing the ball.
The review process lasted more than seven minutes before the penalty was awarded. The VAR protocol covers all 104 games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup men's tournament. Andy Davies, a former Select Group referee with over 12 seasons on the elite list, analyzed the incidents.
