Luka Modric did not hold back his criticism and issued a stern warning: the refereeing during the match between Portugal and Croatia, crucial for qualification to the 2026 World Cup, once again penalized the Croatians with controversial decisions. The captain of Croatia, known for his typically diplomatic demeanor, did not hide his frustration after seeing his team eliminated from the world’s biggest football competition in a game filled with controversy and questionable technical decisions.
The controversy erupted at the end of the match held in Leipzig, where Portugal won 2-1, a result that led to Croatia's elimination. Modric particularly protested against the disallowed goal that would have equalized the match at two goals, arguing that there was no evidence that Matanovic had touched the ball. The Croatian midfielder explained: “What did the referee tell us? That Matanovic touched the ball, but we saw the footage and there is no evidence that he touched it. If he doesn’t touch the ball, it’s not offside,” Modric stated, visibly irritated, after the final whistle.
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The case of the disallowed goal was not the only incident that caused outrage. Modric also pointed a finger at the penalty awarded to Portugal, classifying the VAR intervention as “selective” and influenced by the stature of the teams involved. “Some things did not go as we expected. That penalty… if it had been the other way around, VAR would never have intervened. At first, when VAR was introduced, I said I didn’t like it. Then, over time, I saw that it is good for some things, but it is used incorrectly or selectively, or depending on the size of the team. VAR should intervene if it is a 200% error, but if it is not, if it is in the grey area, it has no say. It doesn’t make sense to call VAR. This is not a penalty. Both teams are grabbing and pushing; Vlasic did not bring him down, he held him and they both fell. Therefore, you cannot award a penalty like that in a game like this,” the Croatian captain stated, in a clear attack on the officiating team.
Luka Modric's indignation reflects a sense of helplessness shared by many Croatian fans and players, who have seen their national team penalized by controversial decisions in crucial stages of major tournaments. In this qualifying round, the criticism is focused on the consistency and impartiality of the VAR, a technology intended to eliminate human errors, but which, according to Modric, ends up being used unevenly. The midfielder reinforced his stance: “That’s why I say it should be used if the error is 200%. If you can analyze something one way or another, you have no say. That bothers me and always harms us. It is what it is… let’s move on, we won’t complain, but of course some things bother me because fate decides, it decides the state of mind for everything you do, for what you sacrifice, destroy yourself for, fight for… There are young players who come here and then something like this happens to them… It always harms us,” lamented Modric, already with some discouragement.
Despite the outrage, Modric made a point of praising Croatia's performance, especially for their reaction in the second half. “I won’t talk about that anymore; we can be proud of how we played, how we fought, how we represented Croatia, especially in the second half. That is the Croatia everyone knows, for which we are so respected and loved in the world. Now we reset and that’s it,” he concluded, showing pride in the team's warrior attitude.
The elimination of Croatia leaves deep marks not only on the group led by Modric but also on the credibility of international refereeing and the use of VAR in high-stakes matches. The words of the Croatian captain promise to stir the discussion around sporting justice and transparency in top-level football competitions. For Portugal, the victory guarantees advancement to the next stage, but it does not erase the doubts raised about the legitimacy of key incidents.
The controversy is established and is unlikely to disappear in the coming days. It remains to be seen what the impact of these statements will be on FIFA and the bodies responsible for refereeing, and whether there will be changes to the VAR protocol to prevent similar cases from tarnishing the spectacle of football. For Croatia, it will be a time for reflection and rebuilding, while Portugal moves forward, but under the watchful eye of the football world, which demands clear answers and decisions with no room for doubt.
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