Line call: The VAR decision that infuriated Germany

Germany were at the centre of a huge VAR row after they were knocked out of the World Cup by a highly controversial Japanese goal yesterday.

Japan’s 2-1 win over Spain condemned the Germans to an early exit from Group E, an outcome branded an ‘‘absolute catastrophe’’ by veteran striker Thomas Muller.

The failure to rule out the Japanese winner, when television replays appeared to show the ball going out of play before Kaoru Mitoma crossed for Ao Tanaka to score, is likely to raise fresh questions about the review system.

A lengthy VAR review ruled the goal should stand even though multiple angles suggested the ball was out and a goal kick should have been given to Spain.

Fifa claimed the ‘‘curvature of the ball’’ had kept it in and Spain manager Luis Enrique admitted he struggled to believe the pictures appearing to show the ball cross the line.

‘‘I thought the images must be wrong or fabricated. I saw an image and said, ‘That picture can’t be true’,’’ the Spain manager said. ‘‘I have nothing else to say. I have full respect [for the officials]. I knew something was going on because VAR was taking so long. But we went into collapse mood.’’

‘‘I felt it should never have been a goal, based on the images that VAR were likely to have seen,’’ former referee Keith Hackett told the Telegraph. ‘‘VAR has yet again taken centre stage in a match when it should be the skill set of the players.’’

In the ITV studio, Graeme Souness said: ‘‘There’s 80 million Germans going mad, waiting for a picture that shows that ball didn’t go out of play.’’

His fellow pundit Gary Neville later tweeted: ‘‘Got no doubt that VAR have seen the conclusive angle/ evidence that we haven’t but why would Fifa not allow the host broadcaster to show VAR footage? Makes no sense and doesn’t help with transparency.’’

Germany have now failed to progress from the group stages in successive World Cups, having not previously fallen at the first hurdle since 1938. They leave this tournament despite winning 4-2 against Costa Rica.

Muller said their exit was ‘‘unbelievably bitter’’, while head coach Hansi Flick called for an overhaul of their lauded academy system.

‘‘We need to do things differently,’’ said Flick.

‘‘We have always been able to defend well [in the past] and these are the things we need [now]. We need the basics.’’ –