Graeme Souness has called upon FIFA to release conclusive evidence the ball stayed in play in the incident which led to Japan’s dramatic winner against Spain and knocked out Germany.
Japan scored a controversial winner as they staged another extraordinary World Cup comeback to top Group E ahead of Spain and reach the last 16.
In a tournament that has been full of shocks, this was perhaps the most dramatic night so far, with Spain left relying on the result of Germany’s game with Costa Rica for them to progress.
All four teams had started the evening with a chance of progressing but with Spain needing only a draw to qualify, they were not expected to need any favours from elsewhere.
La Roja were cruising at the break after Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from close range, but Japan would quickly turn the game – and the whole of Group E – on its head.
The Samurai Blue sent on substitutes Ritsu Doan and Mitoma at half-time and within six minutes of the restart they had both made a huge impact.
Doan equalised with a fierce shot from the edge of the area and, only 142 seconds later, Mitomo retrieved Doan’s low cross and found Tanaka to bundle home from close range in dramatic circumstances.
The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee who signalled Doan’s cross had gone out of play, but the VAR ruled Mitomo had reached it in time.
To the naked eye it appeared over the line, but the decision was made that the curvature of the ball was hanging over the chalk, to the delight of Japan’s players.
Ao Tanaka claimed Japan’s second goal after the Video Assistant Referee ruled the ball had not gone out of play before substitute Kaoru Mitoma crossed from the byeline, even though on first viewing it appeared to have done so.
There are 80 million Germans right now going mad, waiting for a picture that shows that ball didn’t go out of play,” he told ITV.
“Germany is not a small footballing nation. Why would you create confusion and not want to clear it up immediately?
“Why are FIFA not showing us something that is so controversial? Why aren’t they showing it to us? Clear it up for us, please.”
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville questioned why television audiences were not shown all the angles of Japan’s winning goal afterwards.
“The high cam that is on the line does suggest that there might be some of the ball over the line,” he said on ITV.
“But from that very first offside goal, Ecuador vs Qatar in game one, I’ve struggled with it a little bit that we’ve not been given the correct angles, it just doesn’t feel right.
“In the Premier League we see all the VAR cameras, here we don’t.”
Spain still had virtually the whole of the second half to stage a recovery, but they lacked either energy or ideas – or both – and rarely threatened Shuichi Gonda in the Japan goal.
It was only the news of Germany’s comeback that allowed the Spain fans to relax in the closing minutes, with the goals that La Roja scored in their opening 7-0 win over Costa Rica proving decisive in sending them through.
Things got worse for Spain when Costa Rica took a surprise lead over Germany moments later, because at that stage they were heading out.
The big screens at Khalifa International Stadium showed the updated group table, to the disbelief of the Spain supporters, and pretty much everyone else here too.
Luis Enrique’s side were in big trouble, and were showing few signs of knowing how to rescue themselves, with only Germany’s late rally sending La Roja through as group runners-up on goal difference.
Japan’s reward for a remarkable performance is a tie with Croatia in the last 16, while a relieved Spain side will face Morocco.
Thomas Muller, 33, who may have played his last international match for Germany, was left in disbelief at how their World Cup campaign had ended.
“It’s an absolute disaster! I don’t know what happens next. If this was my last game, then I would like to say a few words to the German football fans. It was an enormous pleasure, dear people,” a tearful Muller told ARD.
“We experienced great moments. I tried to leave my heart on the court in every game.
“It is unbelievably bitter for us because our result would have been enough. It’s a feeling of powerlessness.”
On Japan’s second goal, manager Hajime Moriyasu, speaking through an interpreter, said: “We were just playing to win. We think that our intensity materialised as a goal.
“Whether the ball was out or not, there is great technology nowadays for big football (matches).
“If it was really out, it would have been a goal kick, but the judgement of the referee was it was in.
“We respected it, but we were willing to respect either way. The final judgement was it was in.”