Why Did VAR Deny Gvardiol's Last-Gasp Equaliser Against Portugal? Here's What We Know

Last Updated:July 03, 2026, 07:54 IST

Croatia thought they had forced extra time against Portugal, only for VAR to rule out Josko Gvardiol's stoppage-time equaliser after a marginal offside decision.

Croatia looked to have pulled off one final miracle. Instead, they were left staring at the giant screen in disbelief.

Just moments after Goncalo Ramos’ stoppage-time header had put Portugal 2-1 ahead in their FIFA World Cup Round of 32 clash, Croatia thought they had found a dramatic equaliser deep into added time through Josko Gvardiol.

The Manchester City defender bundled the ball home after Mario Pasalic had redirected a cross into his path, sparking wild celebrations on the Croatian bench and in the stands.

For a few seconds, extra time appeared inevitable.

Then VAR intervened.

Why Was Gvardiol’s Goal Disallowed?

The crucial moment came before the ball reached Pasalic.

As the cross was delivered into the penalty area, FIFA’s connected-ball technology — commonly referred to as “Snicko" — detected the slightest touch from Igor Matanovic. The contact was almost imperceptible to the naked eye, but it proved decisive.

That tiny flick changed the phase of play and meant Pasalic was in an offside position when he received the ball before laying it off for Gvardiol to finish.

Because the incident involved a subjective touch that directly affected the offside sequence, referee Espen Eskas was called to the pitchside monitor rather than relying solely on the semi-automated offside system.

After reviewing the footage, the Norwegian official overturned the goal, leaving Croatia’s players stunned and confirming Portugal’s advantage.

Croatia’s Frustration Boils Over

The decision sparked furious scenes inside BMO Field.

Croatia supporters vented their anger by throwing water bottles onto the pitch, briefly delaying the restart as security and match officials worked to restore order.

Veteran winger Ivan Perisic, who had given Croatia the lead in the 53rd minute with a composed finish, walked over to the travelling fans in an attempt to calm the situation before replays of the offside sequence were shown on the stadium’s big screen.

Ultimately, the explanation did little to ease the pain.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

News sports football Why Did VAR Deny Gvardiol's Last-Gasp Equaliser Against Portugal? Here's What We Know

Read More