World Cup 2026: VAR costs Germany in loss to Paraguay on penalties

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, working for German television during the World Cup, likened Tah’s disallowed goal to many which Premier League champions Arsenal had scored throughout the season.

Klopp told MagentaTV: “If the goal is illegal, then Arsenal won’t be English champions. They’ve scored 60% of their goals that way.

“We [Germany] win the game when the ball goes in. So, of course, this is brutal.”

As the game restarted, former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann shared his views on the decision.

“This is soft, in my opinion,” Cann said on BBC One.

“But judging by what we’ve seen in the tournament so far, it wouldn’t surprise me if they do rule it out.

“We’ve seen two or three goals ruled out for very small offences. This is hardly anything.

“It’s a small block on the goalkeeper, but for me, it’s not enough. I suspect they will be ruling this out. We feel this should not be disallowed.”

Ex-Scotland winger Pat Nevin, in Boston for BBC Radio 5 Live, also believed the apparent foul was not clear enough to rule the goal out.

He said: “It is mayhem around there. There is a block – has it affected the goalkeeper? It looks like it.

“It is a subjective call. That is not clear.”