Portugal defeats Croatia 2-1 amid VAR controversy and referee removal calls

Portugal advanced to the World Cup round of 16 by beating Croatia 2-1. Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty after VAR determined Nikola Vlašić had fouled Gabriel Veiga. Earlier, Joško Gvardiol’s goal was annulled when VAR found Igor Matanović had a slight touch on the ball.

The disputed decisions sparked outrage in Croatia and beyond. Former players and commentators criticized the use of VAR, with one legend saying, "Portugal was not that much better; the game was 50‑50." FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina faced pressure to dismiss Norwegian referee Espen Eskås and his officiating team from the remainder of the tournament.

The incident has dominated post‑match discussion, highlighting ongoing debates over VAR’s role in football.