Neville, while analysing the encounter, said he was confused as to why the best angle showing the goal was not played for the pundits or viewers
By Kehinde Okeowo
Manchester United legend, Gary Neville has criticised the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for allowing Japan’s second goal which crucially eliminated Germany from this year’s World Cup to stand.
He wondered why the technology did not make its decision clear to viewers by showing the best angle which informed his judgment to overrule the centre referee’s decision.
Japan came from behind on Thursday night, to defeat Spain 2-1 and moved to the knockout phase of the competition, while Germany despite beating Costa Rica 4-2 got booted out of the tournament.
The decisive goal which ended Germany’s aspiration came in the 51st minute, when Kaoru Mitoma’s assist was buried by Ao Tanaka.
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The goal was initially disallowed with the centre referee believing it had rolled out for over, however, VAR overturned the decision, ruling that it had not gone out, with replays showing that it was a very close call.
Neville while analysing the game said he was confused as to why the best angle was not shown to them or viewers.
He said, “There was a goal disallowed and VAR has seen something that we’ve not seen in this studio or around the world.
“We can’t get an angle of what the VAR officials have seen,” Neville said on ITV.
He was not alone, Liverpool legend, Graeme Souness also said: “Every television studio, every pundit, everyone who’s got an interest in this World Cup will be wanting to see the picture.
“It looked to us in real-time as if the ball went out, the pictures we’ve seen it looks like the ball’s gone out.
“Why are FIFA not showing us something that is so controversial…”
Germany was one of the tournament’s favourites, but they now join fellow European giants and the second highest ranked team in the world, Belgium and 11 other teams out of the competition.
