Refereeing expert Gamal El-Ghandour has defended the decision to disallow Germany’s extra-time goal against Paraguay, insisting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention was correct despite widespread criticism following Germany’s elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The controversial incident occurred during Germany’s Round of 32 clash with Paraguay, a match that ended 1-1 after regular and extra time before Paraguay secured a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout.
The defeat marked Germany’s first loss in a World Cup penalty shootout and ended hopes of adding a fifth world title during the tournament being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, much of the discussion after the match focused on a decision by Moroccan referee Jalal Jaid to rule out a goal scored by Jonathan Tah in the 104th minute after consulting VAR.
Decision Sparks Intense Debate
The disallowed goal quickly became one of the tournament’s most discussed refereeing moments.
Jonathan Tah appeared to have given Germany a decisive breakthrough in extra time before referee Jalal Jaid reviewed the incident and ruled out the goal because of a foul.
The decision generated strong reactions, particularly in Germany, where sections of the media questioned the referee’s interpretation of the incident.
According to the report, the referee’s performance became the main talking point after the match, with criticism intensifying as Germany’s World Cup campaign came to an unexpected end.
German Media Criticise Refereeing
German newspaper Die Welt strongly criticised the officiating, arguing that Germany’s elimination was influenced by the controversial decision.
While acknowledging that the German team produced a disappointing display and struggled to create meaningful scoring opportunities, the newspaper argued that the referee bore responsibility for the outcome after what it described as the cancellation of a legitimate goal.
The report noted that criticism centred on the decision to overturn Jonathan Tah’s strike rather than Germany’s overall performance alone.
El-Ghandour Supports the VAR Call
Gamal El-Ghandour, however, offered a different assessment after reviewing the footage.
The former referee said the decision to disallow the goal was both correct and courageous, describing it as one of the boldest refereeing decisions seen during the 2026 World Cup.
He explained:
“In that incident, one of the German players deliberately obstructed Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gil, preventing him from jumping properly for the ball.”
El-Ghandour maintained that the replay clearly supported the referee’s judgment.
He added:
“Despite the great controversy that accompanied this decision, the replay proves that there was a foul committed by the Germans on the Paraguayan goalkeeper, and therefore canceling the goal scored by Jonathan Tah was certainly the right decision.”
His assessment directly contradicted claims that Germany had been unfairly denied a legitimate goal.
Germany’s Tournament Ends in Disappointment
The refereeing debate has unfolded against the backdrop of a disappointing World Cup campaign for Germany.
The team entered the tournament aiming to lift a fifth World Cup trophy and equal Brazil’s record for the number of world titles.
Instead, Germany’s journey ended in dramatic fashion after a 1-1 draw with Paraguay was followed by defeat in the penalty shootout.
The elimination has prompted questions not only about the controversial refereeing decision but also about Germany’s performances during the tournament, with critics pointing to a lack of creativity and attacking effectiveness.
While opinions remain divided over the incident involving Jonathan Tah’s disallowed goal, El-Ghandour’s analysis offers a clear defence of the officiating, arguing that the VAR review identified a genuine foul on Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gil.
As debate continues over one of the World Cup’s most contentious refereeing moments, the decision remains central to discussions surrounding Germany’s early exit, even as attention also turns to the team’s inability to fulfil expectations during the tournament.
