Former Germany international Ilkay Gündogan has launched a scathing attack on the video assistant referee (VAR) following his country’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup. The veteran midfielder took to social media to question the decision to rule out Jonathan Tah’s goal during Germany’s penalty shootout loss to Paraguay.
Germany’s campaign ended in the knockout stages after they were defeated on penalties by the South American side. The match remained deadlocked through normal time and extra time, but a crucial moment arrived in the first period of additional play when defender Tah thought he had given his side the lead.
Extra-Time Controversy
The incident occurred when Waldemar Anton appeared to make contact with the Paraguay goalkeeper shortly before Tah headed home at the back post. Following a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for obstruction, a decision that left Gündogan incredulous and sparked immediate debate about the interpretation of the rules.
Writing on X/Twitter after the match, Gündogan did not mince his words regarding the officiating. “That team performance definitely doesn’t need any sugarcoating,” he stated. “But what the hell was that VAR decision? In the Premier League, they would just give a weary smile over something like that – especially taking back a decision.”
The comparison to English football suggests Gündogan believes the contact was minimal and would not have been penalised in the Premier League, where he spent several successful seasons. The disallowal proved particularly costly as Germany were unable to find another breakthrough against their determined opponents.
Honest Assessment
Despite his frustration with the officiating, the former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder accepted that Germany had not performed well enough to merit victory regardless of the controversial call. “Of course, it’s brutally disappointing. Unfortunately, we failed to convince over 120 minutes,” he added.
The result marks a premature end to Germany’s World Cup ambitions, with the team unable to break down their opponents during two hours of football. The defeat continues a period of frustration for the national team, who were left to rue both the disallowed goal and their own inability to create clear chances.
Gündogan’s comments reflect ongoing debates about VAR consistency across different competitions and regions. His suggestion that similar incidents in England’s top flight are treated more leniently highlights concerns about standardised officiating at the highest level. Nevertheless, his candid assessment that Germany lacked conviction throughout the contest points to deeper issues within the squad’s tournament performance.