Intent doesn't matter, so "play" can mean pass or shot

by HCE, Thursday, July 16, 2026, 05:23 (8 days ago) @ omahadomer

On the Croatia goal, here's what we all thought happened:

A plays it to B. B plays it to C. C plays it to D. D scores. Everyone is onside when the ball is played to them, so the goal is good.

Per VAR and FIFA's new tech, though, when A played it to B, the ball actually touched X first. So, A plays to to X. X plays it to B. B is offside when X plays it, so there was "an offside in the build-up" to the goal. So, even though C and D were both onside afterwards, the goal cannot stand.

Take X out of the above, it's a goal.