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Fifa has moved to explain a controversial VAR decision in Japan’s defeat of Spain that effectively knocked Germany out of the World Cup.
The Asian giants went down to an early Alvaro Morata header before stunning Spain with two goals inside three minutes early in the second half of their Group E clash.
But it was the lead up to Japan’s second goal that will be a talking point for a long time.
A ball across the box appeared to be heading out before a desperate Kaoru Mitoma stretched to drag it back for Ao Tanakato to bundle it home.
A VAR review determined that the goal should stand even though multiple angles suggested there was a gap between the ball and the touch line.
Spain were shellshocked and struggled to react, going on to lose the match 2-1.
It meant Japan topped the group with Germany dumped ou for the second World Cup in a row despite beating Costa Rica 4-2
It also cost Germany a staggering $13 million, the prizemoney awarded for making the next stage in the tournament.
Speaking after the match Spain coach Luis Enrique said he was in disbelief at the decision to award the goal.
“I thought the images must be wrong or fabricated. I saw an image and said, ‘That picture can’t be true’,” he said after the match.
“I have nothing else to say. I have full respect [for the officials]. I knew something was going on because Var was taking so long. But we went into collapse mood.”
Fifa, meanwhile, claimed the “curvature of the ball” had kept it in, a fact that was dismissed by former referee Keith Hackett who told the Telegraph in the UK “It should never have been a goal”.
“It might be time to think about binning VAR.”
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It could have been even worse for Spain, who looked destined for a staggering exit after Costa Rica took a shock lead against Germany.
The four time world champions however struck back but it wasn’t enough to prevent a disastrous World Cup exit.
Spain survived, progressing thanks to their superior goal difference, on a night that was far more terrifying than they had anticipated — and Japan secured a hugely unlikely achievement.
“We are through, that’s the important thing,” Morata said.
“Another slip-up and we are going home.
“We have to continue with confidence in ourselves (but) it cannot happen again because we’ll be going home.”
