{"id":499239,"date":"2026-06-14T13:11:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T13:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/499239\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T13:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T13:11:09","slug":"world-cup-digest-tech-issue-caused-var-confusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/499239\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup digest: Tech issue caused VAR confusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

FIFA has said a “technical outage” prevented VAR graphics from being shown during Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Qatar<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n

There was confusion for supporters inside the stadium in California and watching on TV after no images or animations were made available to show that Switzerland\u2019s Remo Freuler was onside moments before winning a penalty in the first half.<\/p>\n

ITV pundit Gary Neville described the governing body as a “dictatorship” and suggested that failing to demonstrate to viewers why play had been allowed to continue undermined trust in the process.<\/p>\n

FIFA said: “During the Qatar vs Switzerland match in the San Francisco Bay Area, a brief technical outage prevented the onside animation graphic from being generated ahead of the penalty awarded to Switzerland in the 14th minute. The issue was quickly resolved.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\uddf6\ud83c\udde6 0-1 \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded<\/p>\n

Breel Embolo with the first penalty of the 2026 World Cup to put Switzerland ahead.<\/p>\n

Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup<\/a> on RT\u00c9 pic.twitter.com\/i6mfWXu1Vi<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 RT\u00c9 Sport (@RTEsport) June 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

“The workflow of the VAR was not affected by this issue and followed the normal procedure in checking the on-field decision. The lines used by the VAR to check the position of the relevant players did not show the attacking player to be in an offside position in either of the two situations immediately before the penalty decision.”<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, a World Cup bus was set alight and a teenager suffered a gunshot wound during chaotic scenes in Midtown Manhattan as thousands of basketball fans poured into the streets late on Saturday to celebrate the New York Knicks’ historic win in the NBA Finals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some fans set off fireworks and fired smoke grenades after spilling out of packed bars and outdoor venues, chanting “Knicks in five!” to mark their team’s victory in the fifth game of a possible seven.<\/p>\n

\"Police
\nPolice fire tear gas to remove Knicks fans from atop a bus<\/p>\n

The New York Knicks have not won a title since 1973, and this was just their third appearance in the finals after losses in 1994 and 1999 – to the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs, whom they defeated on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

At about 2am, a 17-year-old was shot in the foot during celebrations in Times Square, a New York police officer told Reuters. Three persons of interest were in custody, he added.<\/p>\n

As the celebrations ran into the night, hundreds of mostly young people swarmed a convoy of about 15 shuttle buses in Times Square after they transported soccer fans from the first World Cup game in the New York City area between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a draw<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some of them climbed onto the roofs of the buses, got inside and sat in the driving seats.<\/p>\n

One of the yellow school buses the city government hired to help transport soccer fans was set on fire, according to a Reuters video journalist who witnessed it in flames. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured in the incident. At least three more shuttle buses were badly damaged by crowds.<\/p>\n

A bicycle was hauled onto the roof of another bus and supporters of the Brazilian soccer team joined Knicks fans on the roof of a bus, waving their national flag. A man with a bleeding face walked through the crowds, but Reuters could not determine what caused his injury.<\/p>\n

“They are expressing their happiness, a little bit violently, but it is what it is,” said Youssef Sabbr, a 49-year-old Canadian of Moroccan descent, who had got off one of the World Cup game buses before it was surrounded by crowds.<\/p>\n

“That’s what happens everywhere around the world when a team wins,” Sabbr said.<\/p>\n

More to follow…<\/p>\n

Additional reporting: Reuters<\/p>\n