World Cup: Keith Hackett Claims ‘Technology Failed’ in Switzerland vs Qatar

Writing has always been Josh's way of expressing his deep enthusiasm for sports, and this new path allows him to bring a fresh and honest perspective to his work.

He also gains valuable experience as a volunteer match reporter for the Loughborough Foxes WFC. Covering live events has helped Josh improve his storytelling skills and given him a closer insight into the game. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account Switzerland and Qatar served up one of the most dramatic openers of the 2026 World Cup, with a 94th-minute header from Boualem Khoukhi snatching a point for the 2022 hosts in San Francisco.

But long before that late equaliser, Group B's curtain-raiser had already generated its share of chaos, centred on a penalty incident in the 17th minute that left broadcasters, pundits and former officials demanding answers.

Some of these will stay in the minds of fans forever.

Remo Freuler latched onto a headed ball inside the penalty area and attempted to deftly lift it over the advancing Qatar goalkeeper, Mahmud Abunada. The challenge that followed was heavy enough to keep both players on the ground. Honduran referee Hector Said Martinez had made his call immediately: Penalty to Switzerland. Breel Embolo stepped up and converted without any fuss.

Replays appeared to show Freuler in an offside position as he received the ball, and VAR duly initiated a review. What followed frustrated everyone watching. No offside lines or semi-automated graphics were shown. The review concluded, the penalty stood, and viewers at home and inside the stadium were left entirely in the dark.

Gary Neville didn't hold back: "They've got the evidence of the automated decision, why are they not showing us?" he said, comparing FIFA's approach to a "dictatorship." Ian Wright was equally damning, calling the lack of transparency "scandalous."

ITV commentator Lee Dixon, who had been convinced VAR would intervene, said: "There must be something wrong with my monitor."

A statement has been released by the kit manufacturer after FIFA banned the kit design on the eve of the tournament

Former referee and PGMOL boss Keith Hackett went further than most. Responding on X to former Norway international Jan Aage Fjørtoft, who’d questioned why VAR was reviewing a penalty rather than the apparent offside. Hackett was blunt: "This goal should have been ruled out for offside. Technology fail."

ITV's referee analyst Christina Unkel offered a different perspective. She explained that under FIFA's protocol, semi-automated offside graphics are only shown when a review results in an overturn, which is why the lines and the graphics never appeared. She also defended the technology itself, insisting it operates at a precision far beyond what the human eye could ever detect:

"The technology that's been implemented in this World Cup is at a higher level so it's going to be even sharper and crisper."

He is currently in Boston but will not be able to travel to Canada for his team’s opening game.

Qatar ultimately had the last laugh, with Khoukhi's late header denying Switzerland all three points. But the questions raised around the penalty are unlikely to disappear quietly.