FIFA has officially confirmed that a brief technical malfunction occurred in the semi-automated offside technology during the build-up to a penalty awarded to Switzerland against Qatar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Tech Glitch Sparks Controversy
The incident caused significant debate, as there was a strong suspicion of offside against the Swiss attacker, and the crucial 3D animated replay was not broadcast.
In an official statement, FIFA explained: “During the match between Qatar and Switzerland in the San Francisco Bay Area, a brief technical glitch prevented the generation of the graphic offside animation prior to the penalty awarded to Switzerland in the 14th minute.”
The governing body added: “The issue was quickly resolved. The operation of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was not impacted by this glitch, and the standard protocol to verify the on-field decision was fully followed.”
FIFA’s statement concluded by reassuring that the VAR’s ultimate decision—ruling that there was no offside in the two preceding phases—was accurate and thoroughly verified, effectively closing the matter.
Historical Point for Qatar
Breel Embolo successfully converted the controversial 14th-minute penalty to put Switzerland ahead. However, Qatar managed to secure a dramatic late equalizer thanks to a powerful header from Boualem Khoukhi, earning “Al-Annabi” their first-ever historic point in World Cup history.
