Josko Gvardiol offside VAR ruled out a stoppage-time goal that would have levelled a World Cup knockout match, denying Croatia an equaliser against Portugal in Toronto.
The ruling came after a video assistant referee check in the dying moments of the contest and ended Croatia’s hopes of forcing extra time.
What happened in Toronto
In stoppage time, Croatia appeared to have scored a dramatic equaliser when Josko Gvardiol finished a move that breached Portugal’s defensive line.
The on-field officials initially signalled a goal before play was paused for a VAR intervention.
Following the review, the referee was advised to overturn the decision: the goal was ruled out for offside and Portugal retained the lead.
The decision effectively decided who progressed from this knockout tie, denying Croatia a late route to extra time.
Josko Gvardiol offside VAR: How the review decided
The VAR procedure examined the precise moment the final pass was played and the relative positions of attacking and defending players.
Video officials used frame-by-frame replays from multiple camera angles to determine whether Gvardiol was ahead of the last defender when the ball left their teammate’s boot.
Where available, technology such as calibrated lines or virtual marking aids can be applied, but the central test remains whether an attacking player was in an offside position at the instant the ball was played.
In this case, the VAR team judged that Gvardiol was in an offside position at that key moment, and the on-field decision awarding the goal was overturned as a result.
The process followed the tournament’s VAR protocols: review by the assistant VAR team, communication with the on-field referee, and a final on-field decision after the check.
Immediate impact on the match
With the stoppage-time strike disallowed, Croatia did not equalise and the match did not proceed to extra time.
The timing of the incident — in added time — meant there was very little opportunity for either side to respond before the final whistle.
The overturned goal directly affected which team advanced from the knockout round, preserving Portugal’s advantage and ending Croatia’s run in this match.
Key context and what comes next
The fixture was a World Cup knockout tie staged in Toronto, part of the later rounds where single incidents can determine tournament progression.
Offside calls reviewed by VAR in stoppage time have become high-profile moments in major tournaments, prompting debate over margins and the application of technology.
For the teams involved, the immediate consequence is clear: Portugal progressed from this round, while Croatia’s hopes in this match ended with the final whistle.
Both sides will continue with their respective schedules in the tournament calendar or prepare for their next fixtures, depending on the wider tournament bracket and outcomes elsewhere.
Background on VAR and offside checks
VAR is used in major international competitions to correct clear and obvious errors in match-changing situations, including goals and potential offsides.
When a potential offside is flagged, video officials look at the precise frame when the ball is played and assess the alignment of attacking players with the defensive line.
Small separations — sometimes a matter of centimetres — can determine whether a player is judged offside, which is why some decisions provoke close scrutiny and discussion.
Officials must balance the need for accuracy with the practical limits of broadcast imagery and the technology in use at each tournament.
Key takeaways
Josko Gvardiol had a stoppage-time goal disallowed after a VAR review found him to be offside at the moment the pass was played.
The ruling prevented Croatia from equalising and ensured Portugal retained the lead that decided the knockout tie in Toronto.
The incident underscores how VAR interventions can be decisive in the final moments of major tournament matches and how margins at the offside line can determine outcomes.
FAQ
Why was Gvardiol’s goal ruled out?
The VAR review concluded that Gvardiol was in an offside position when the ball was played, so the on-field goal decision was overturned.
What did VAR check to call offside?
Video officials examined the moment the pass was made, using available camera angles and frame-by-frame analysis to determine the relative positions of attackers and defenders.
Did the disallowed goal change the match result?
Yes. With the stoppage-time goal ruled out, Croatia did not equalise and Portugal remained ahead, meaning the match did not go to extra time and Portugal progressed from the knockout tie.
Source and attribution
Source: BBC Sport. Original report and video: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/ckg7eerdx6go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
Match location: Toronto. Article based on the BBC Sport report and accompanying video; no additional claims beyond the original coverage have been made here.
