Zlatan Ibrahimović on the VAR decision that denied Iran a last-minute winner against Egypt:
🗣️ “This is exactly why people are losing faith in VAR. We're told it's here to eliminate clear mistakes, yet somehow it keeps creating even bigger controversies on football's biggest stage. That's simply unacceptable.”
“I've watched the replay again and again, and I still don't understand how anyone can call that offside. If you're going to cancel a goal that could decide a nation's World Cup, you better be 100% certain not guessing behind a screen.”
“Millions of Iranians celebrated what they believed was a historic moment, only for a group of officials to erase it within seconds. You didn't just disallow a goal you stole a nation's dream.”
“The referee and VAR officials should be held accountable for decisions like this. You cannot hide behind technology when the technology is being used incorrectly. That's not justice, that's incompetence.”
“A World Cup is played once every four years. Players sacrifice everything to get here, supporters travel across the world, and then one shocking decision destroys months of hard work. That is unforgivable.”
“If this is the standard of officiating at the biggest tournament in football, then something is seriously broken. Football deserves better, the players deserve better, and above all, the fans deserve far better than this.”
The footages of killed Iranian children under the rubble tonight are too shocking, yet familiar. Gaza, Beirut, Sanaa and now Tehran. Same killer. There is something really demonic about Israel’s thirst for children’s blood