FIFA’s head of referees Pierluigi Collina has unwittingly revived a Celtic vs Rangers VAR controversy after explaining why Germany had a goal rightly chalked off at the 2026 World Cup.
Germany thought they had scored an extra-time winner against Paraguay but Jonathan Tah’s goal was ruled out after a VAR intervention saw a foul on the Paraguay goalkeeper.
The game ended in a stalemate and Paraguay went on to knock Germany out on penalties, but as the controversy over the decision continued, Collina released a statement backing the VAR call and it vindicates one of Celtic’s biggest calls against Rangers in the 2024 Scottish Cup final.
As FIFA prepare to introduce two big VAR rule changes, should Scotland still continue with the controversial technology?
FIFA’s Germany VAR call mirrors Celtic’s vs Rangers in 2024 final
As Germany’s World Cup hurt continues, Julian Nagelsman’s side have been told that the VAR call to rule out their late goal against Paraguay was correct.
The decision sparked widespread debate during the World Cup, forcing FIFA to publicly explain why VAR was correct to intervene under the current Laws of the Game.
In a statement, Collina said, “Although keeping a position is not a foul per se, when an attacking player is not interested in the ball and deliberately moves, even marginally, with the clear intention of obstructing opponents’ movement and prevents him from defending, then referees, and VAR when needed, should carefully analyse the incident and intervene.
“This is especially the case when the tactic aims to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from being able to defend the goal.
“Coaches and players were informed, so it should come as no surprise that referees will punish these fouls.”
This explanation ultimately clamps Rangers fans who have been crying about the goal that was chalked off against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final over two years ago now.
The Joe Hart Celtic decision FIFA accidentally backed
Celtic fans will widely remember the VAR call made at Hampden during the 2-1 win over Rangers that sealed another double.
Had the decision stood, Rangers would have wrongly taken the lead after Nico Raskin pushed Hart as he tried to collect the ball at a corner.
The guidance even then was clear, impeding a goalkeeper will result in a foul and even two years later, that still hasn’t changed.
Rangers supporters will continue to cry over that decision, but FIFA’s latest explanation shows the law has not changed at the World Cup.
If anything, the guidance only reinforces why Celtic’s Scottish Cup final victory was decided by the correct VAR call.
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