Santa Clara (California) [US], June 15: A technical malfunction caused confusion among TV viewers during the World Cup match between Switzerland and Qatar after an onside graphic could not be produced before a penalty awarded to Switzerland.
Viewers and experts were puzzled over a possible offside position before the foul by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada on Remo Freuler.
Breel Embolo dispatched the penalty before Qatar levelled late on.
Gary Neville told ITV that FIFA was running a "dictatorship" by not showing the lines and proving the semi-automatic offside system had worked, while fellow ex-England star Ian Wright labelled the situation "scandalous."
Former Norway World Cup striker Jan Aage Fjørtoft went further on X, stating: "They haven't showed yet ... suspicious. FIFA have 600 cameras, 18 persons in VAR bus. And still we haven't seen a line or 3D graphic before the penalty situation.
"My theory. They check cross for offside. Then check if it's penalty, yellow card. They forgot to check second offside situation." Ex-referee Thorsten Kinhofer told Germany's ZDF: "I would have expected an offside position. I can only imagine that the camera showed a false perspective or the semi-automated offside line failed."
But world football governing body FIFA said in a statement that there was no offside and that the correct lines were seen by the video assistant. The technical malfunction which meant viewers were not shown them did not affect the official, FIFA added.
Source: Qatar Tribune