Gary Neville calls FIFA a dictatorship over VAR silence

Gary Neville described FIFA as a dictatorship after the governing body refused to release the VAR replay that decided a tight off‑side call in the Group B match between Switzerland and Qatar at the World Cup 2026. The controversy emerged in the first half of the group stage clash. Switzerland were awarded a penalty when Remi Freuler was clattered by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada. Replays suggested Freuler might have been offside from Breel Embolo’s header before the foul, but the VAR review upheld the penalty and the specific off‑side lines were not shown. Speaking at half‑time on ITV, Neville said the lack of transparency was unacceptable, adding, “Why are they not showing us? It feels like a dictatorship.” Fans were left to trust the decision without visual evidence. ITV rules expert Christina Unkel later confirmed that FIFA possessed the replay and the semi‑automated off‑side lines but chose not to broadcast them, prompting Neville to intensify his criticism. Mark Pougatch, Duncan Ferguson and Ian Wright all echoed Neville’s bafflement, with Wright questioning why the semi‑automatic line was never displayed despite its routine use in the Premier League. Breel Embolo converted the penalty and Switzerland dominated the match, yet they failed to add a second goal. In injury time, Qatar equalised when Boualem Khoukhi headed Homam El Amin’s 94th‑minute cross, giving Julen Lopetegui’s side their first World Cup point.