DR CONGO had a stunning goal against Uzbekistan ruled out – and nobody was happy with it.
Nathanael Mbuku thought he had struck a brilliant equaliser in the final group stage game only for referee Felix Zwayer to rule it out after a pitchside review.
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Nathanael Mbuku’s first half stunner for DR Congo against Uzbekistan was ruled out Credit: Getty
The decision got slammed online by fans and pundits Credit: Reuters
He went to the screen following a VAR check and deemed Mbuku to have caught opponent Sherzod Nasrullaev in the face with a trailing arm whilst running at the start of the move.
But it left football fans online and BBC pundit Chris Sutton furious.
Sutton said: “I really cannot believe that. It is a flailing arm. Is that deliberate?
“He was just fending him off. That is pathetic, it really is. That is as soft as it can be.
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“Especially in a World Cup where the referees have been a lot stronger on contact.”
And others agreed, with one writing on X: “That DR Congo goal being disallowed is an absolute farce”.
Another on Reddit added: “Absolutely pathetic. The type of officiating that sucks the life out of the game.”
A third commented: “That might be the most absurd decision in VAR history, which is saying something.
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“The alleged ‘offence’ wasn’t even in the same half.”
Someone else replied: “Never seen a more incompetent use of technology in any sport.”
It was also described as a “shameful decision” and official Zwayer was told to “have a spine, Don’t let the VAR bully you into canceling that”.
Tournament minnows Uzbekistan took a shock lead early on through Eldor Shomurodov’s perfect lob.
That took them up to third in Group K but nowhere near qualifying for last-32 due to their woeful goal difference – courtesy of being battered by Portugal.
When Congo levelled, that put them up to third but only on two points and not enough to go into the top eight either.
They started the game with a chance of facing England next up.
