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VAR overturns goal after retrospective review

sportsJul 7, 2026401,802

A Video Assistant Referee review overturned a goal that had been awarded to Egypt, ruling that a foul earlier in the buildup nullified the score. The disallowed goal drew immediate criticism from Egypt manager Hossam Hassan, who publicly criticized FIFA for perceived bias during the match, according to ESPN. Social posts and commentators pointed to inconsistent VAR use, with multiple messages saying a foul by Argentina in a separate sequence was not reviewed while Egypt’s buildup was examined retrospectively. The episode reignited debate over how far back VAR can or should look in a single attacking sequence and whether referees apply the protocol evenly across teams. Supporters of the decision argued the foul occurred before the buildup and so the reversal was within VAR’s remit; opponents said retroactive reviews erase the on-field play that followed and undermine match flow. FIFA’s published VAR guidance describes the system as a technology to review match decisions with video footage, introduced to reduce errors; the incident is likely to prompt renewed calls for clearer boundaries on retrospective reviews and for formal explanations from match officials.