Why was Germany's winning goal disallowed? Legendary Collina explains controversial moment

The chairman of the referees' committee, Pierluigi Collina, hinted at this in an article published on the governing body's official website.

Tah's 103rd-minute effort put Germany ahead 2-1, but head referee Jalal Jayed disallowed the goal due to prior contact between Waldemar Anton and goalkeeper Orlando Gillo. The article, in which Collina evaluates the tournament, features a photograph of this exact situation.

“To increase the pace of the game, referees were advised not to penalize normal football contact and to pay attention to certain specific situations that may arise in connection with the tactics of certain teams. An example is when attacking players try to prevent defending players from moving.

Although holding a position is not a foul in itself, when an attacking player has no interest in the ball and intentionally moves, even slightly, with the clear intention of impeding an opponent's movement and hindering their defensive play, then referees, and if necessary VAR, should carefully analyze the incident and intervene. This is especially true when the tactic's goal is to prevent the opposing goalkeeper from covering the goal,” stated the legendary Italian arbiter.

The Germany-Paraguay match culminated in a penalty shootout, which the South Americans won 4-3. "Nationalelf" coach Julian Nagelsmann called the decision to disallow Tah's goal a "joke." "It's a scandal. I don't understand how they can disallow a goal like that. I don't know what the referee saw there," the 38-year-old coach commented after the match.