By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Football icon Zlatan Ibrahimović has unleashed a furious blast at the referee and VAR, after Croatia’s last-minute goal against Portugal was ruled out, a decision that reportedly sent them crashing out of the World Cup.
Never one to hold back, Ibrahimović did not mince his words. “That is daylight robbery. Absolute daylight robbery,” he said. “Don’t tell me football is better because of decisions like that. The referee and VAR have stolen the biggest moment of Croatia’s World Cup.”
The disallowed goal has become a major talking point, in part because of how the decision was reached. As previously reported, close-up footage appeared to show no contact in the buildup, while sensors in the ball registered a spike, and the goal was ultimately chalked off for offside. For Ibrahimović, the lengthy review process itself was the problem.
“If you need five minutes, endless replays, slow motion and lines drawn across a screen to find an offside, then it isn’t a clear mistake,” he argued. He accused the match official of hiding behind the technology, saying, “The referee has hidden behind VAR instead of having the courage to make a football decision.”
The former striker went on to lament what he sees as the loss of emotion in the modern game. He praised Croatia for earning the goal with heart, courage, and belief, noting that the players and millions of fans celebrated before officials “sitting in a room erased all of that.” In his words, “That’s not justice, that’s killing the emotion of football. This is the FIFA World Cup, not a science experiment.”
Ibrahimović was careful to direct his anger at the officials rather than Croatia’s opponents. “I don’t blame Portugal, I blame the referee and VAR,” he said, adding that Croatia were left “going home wondering how football’s biggest tournament ended with the officials becoming the main characters.” He concluded, “For me, that’s one of the worst VAR decisions you’ll ever see.”
For football-loving Belize, his fiery comments are sure to strike a chord, tapping into the ongoing debate over just how much technology belongs in the beautiful game. Do you agree with Zlatan, or do you think the officials got it right? Comment below.
The post Football legend blasts officials over Croatia goal appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): Football icon Zlatan Ibrahimović has unleashed a furious blast at the referee and VAR, after Croatia’s last-minute goal against Portugal was ruled out, a decision that reportedly sent them crashing out of the World Cup. Never one to hold back, Ibrahimović did not mince his words. “That is daylight robbery.
The post Football legend blasts officials over Croatia goal appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
