France officially filed a claim with FIFA on Thursday for the annulment of Antoine Griezmann’s goal that would have led to a 1-1 draw in the last game of the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar. The French Football Federation (FFF) considers that this goal, canceled by the referee for offside after having consulted the VAR, should have been validated.
The New Zealand referee Matthew Conger gave the goal as good at first, allowed Tunisia to take a cross and even whistled the end of the game, at which point he was alerted by the VAR. After viewing the images, he decided to cancel the goal and delayed the end of the game.
The FFF argues that, according to the regulations, VAR cannot be used once the match has resumed (that is, after the Tunisians’ kick-off), except if it is used in specific cases: “to carry out an analysis in case mistaken identity or offense subject to expulsion (violence, spitting, biting, hurtful, rude or insulting words or acts)”.
France considers that none of these aspects had been fulfilled, which did not justify the referee resorting to the video after having approved the goal and having allowed Tunisia to serve from the center.
The referee’s decision, which marked France’s first loss at a World Cup since the 2014 quarterfinal against Germany, did not change anything to the standings, as France finished top of the group and Tunisia eliminated. “If they have claimed it, it is because they will have their arguments, but it will not have any influence,” said attacker Kingsley Coman, while his teammate Randal Kolo Muani assured that “it would mean one more goal for Griezmann’s personal account” and “a little more of morale, because a draw is better than a defeat”.
