Modric’ slams selective VAR after controversial penalty decides crucial clash

Luka Modrić launched a blistering attack on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the aftermath of his side’s crucial fixture on Thursday, insisting that a decisive spot-kick awarded against his team was a textbook example of the technology being applied “selectively” and “incorrectly.”

The veteran playmaker did not hold back in his assessment of the pivotal moment, which saw the referee point to the penalty spot following a tussle inside the box during the second half. Replays showed a tangled exchange between the defender and the opposing attacker, with both players engaging in mutual shirt-grabbing and shoulder-to-shoulder jostling before tumbling to the turf. Despite the 50-50 nature of the collision, the official was sent to the monitor and subsequently upheld the decision—a call that ultimately shifted the momentum of the tie.

“Today’s incident was never a penalty,” Modrić told reporters post-match, his frustration palpable. “They were both holding each other and both fell. It was a classic duel for position, not a foul. You simply cannot decide a match of this magnitude with a penalty like that.”

The 38-year-old midfielder, who has been a vocal critic of the technology since its inception, used the controversy to reignite his broader skepticism, arguing that the system has strayed dangerously from its original mandate. While acknowledging its utility for clear-cut infringements, Modrić insisted that the threshold for intervention has become dangerously blurred.

“I said from the beginning, when VAR was introduced, that I didn’t like it,” he stated. “It is useful for some things—off-the-ball incidents or factual offsides, for example—but right now, it is being used incorrectly or, worse, selectively. The protocol is very clear: VAR should only intervene if it is a 200% clear mistake. A stonewall error. An absolute, undeniable howler. This was not that. This was a subjective tussle where both players were equally at fault.”

Modrić further stoked the debate by questioning the consistency of the review process, suggesting that the decision would never have been scrutinized had the roles been reversed. He implied that the threshold for reviewing challenges inside the opposing penalty area is significantly higher, pointing to a fundamental imbalance in how the technology is deployed across the pitch.

“If the situation had been reversed—if our attacker had gone down in their box in the exact same manner—VAR would never have intervened. We all know it,” he argued. “There is no consistency, and that is what hurts the most. You have to be absolutely certain to change the course of a game, and tonight, they were not certain—they just chose a side.”

Summing up the collective disappointment of the dressing room, Modrić reflected on his team’s overall display, lamenting that their performance was overshadowed by a subjective officiating call. He insisted that his teammates had done enough to warrant a different outcome, but that fortune—and the officials—had conspired against them.

“We deserved much more from this game. We dominated for long stretches, created clear openings, and left everything on the pitch. Some things just didn’t go our way tonight, but it stings infinitely more when the decisive moment is manufactured by a soft whistle rather than a genuine footballing error.”

The defeat leaves Modrić’s side facing a steep uphill battle in the remainder of the competition, while his outspoken condemnation is almost certain to reignite the fierce, ongoing debate regarding VAR’s growing influence—and perceived inconsistency—on the modern game. As the football world continues to grapple with the technology’s imperfections, Modrić’s words serve as a stark reminder that for many players, the human element of judgment remains irreplaceable.