A piece of technology well-known to cricket fans sparked one of the wildest moments yet of this World Cup that led to a coach saying it is “taking the joy out of football”.
Portugal and Croatia played out a Round of 32 thriller in Toronto with the Portuguese prevailing 2-1 despite the Croatians believing they had scored an equaliser in the 13th minute of added time.
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Josko Gvardiol’s goal was chalked off for offside, however.
It was inconclusive on the television replays whether Igor Matanovic had made contact with his attempted header after the ball was sent into the box.
But what was clear as the Portugal’s Renato Veiga had made contact before Mario Pasalic teed up Gvardiol.
If Matanovic had missed the ball, it would mean Pasalic was on side.
If Matanovic had touched the ball, it would mean Pasalc was offside.
VAR ruled the latter courtesy of the ‘Snicko’ technology implemented this World Cup.
Regularly used in cricket to determine whether a batter has edged the ball with the bat, chips have been placed inside the footballs this tournament to be able to measure whether it has been touched or not.
A spike on the ‘Snicko’ graph was what the VAR showed and the goal was ruled out as a result.
The BBC’s Mark Chapman joked that the decision was “out, caught behind”.
While the Croatians were shocked.
Players protested with the referee while others were in tears after the final whistle as Croatian legend Luka Modric bid farewell to World Cup farewell in agonising fashion.
Their fans began hurling rubbish on the pitch in protest.
In his post-match interview, Croatia midfielder Petar Sucic demanded answers.
“The referee said that he didn’t see our side touch the ball. He said that he has a sensor in the ball and he decided like that. But I don’t know what is this,” Sucic said.
“It’s really difficult to explain, but we expect somebody will explain to us because if what I saw is that [Igor] Matanovic didn’t touch the ball. So, for me, it’s a regular goal, but I don’t know. I say we need to look better and a few more times. And also, they told me my goal is in difficult situation.
“They need to check more because he decided in one second and the situation is difficult. I don’t know. Today is like that. Luck is on their side.”
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While Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic lamented VAR for destroying a moment of jubilation for his nation.
“You were able to see to what extent emotions have been literally killed, and altogether these decisions take you back and actually take the joy out of football,” Dalic said in a post-game press conference.
“I’m not saying that sometimes VAR can’t be of help, but it kills the emotions, it kills everything within you, it kills what you are experiencing and it’s not easy to deal with all of this.”
The technology came to the fore at the Euros two years ago as well as earlier in the tournament during Sweden’s 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia in the group stage.
On that occasion it was to overturn an offside decision as Liverpool forward Alexander Isak was deemed to have touched the ball, meaning his Swedish teammate was on side.
But still a social media storm erupted as the technology provided a decisive outcome on a knockout tie.
Even if former World Cup final referee Darren Cann told the BBC that the decision was obvious.
“He was offside when the ball was last played by a teammate and the ball was deflected by the defender and not deliberately played, so the offside stands,” Cann said.
“Snicko, that 100 per cent proves that he touched it with the flick-on.”
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez agreed that were no debate surrounding the call.
“The message is very clear: The balls now they have a chip, and it’s very clear and that’s why the VAR intervened,” Martinez said.
“There is no subjective opinion — the chip of the ball shows there is a touch from Matanovic, and that when it happens, Pasalic is offside.
“It’s a shame that one of the teams had to lose today, but there was no bad decision, no unlucky call today, it was clear-cut and technology helped. We were fortunate with a moment but it was a clear moment.”