Neville brands Fifa 'a dictatorship' after hidden offside replay mars Qatar vs Switzerland

Gary Neville labelled Fifa “a dictatorship” during Switzerland’s 1-1 draw with Qatar in World Cup 2026 Group B after the governing body declined to release the semi-automated offside replay that cleared Remo Freuler for Switzerland’s first-half penalty.

In the opening period, Freuler was fouled by Qatari goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada after meeting Breel Embolo’s header — a move that appeared to many observers to be offside. A VAR review upheld the original decision, but Fifa, acting as host broadcaster, chose not to show the offside lines its own system had generated, leaving viewers to accept the call without visual evidence.

Speaking at half-time, Neville was unsparing: “Fifa are the host broadcaster, they’ve got the evidence of the semi-automatic decision that they can show us. Why are they not showing us? Fans are already distrusting of Fifa and technology to start with. There is a massive question mark over that because that is offside in my eyes until they prove me different.”

When ITV rules expert Christina Unkel confirmed that Fifa held the relevant footage with the offside lines drawn and had simply elected not to air it, Neville escalated his criticism. “It’s like a dictator. Honestly, it’s a dictatorship, this,” he said. “The idea that they hold this evidence internally and don’t show fans of countries that are playing in tournaments. It’s absolutely ridiculous. Show it straight away. Why not the transparency?”

Fellow pundit Ian Wright was equally pointed. “With the semi-automatic line, why haven’t we seen that? We see it in the Premier League every week, he looks offside. They do what they want. It’s scandalous,” Wright said. Host Mark Pougatch, pundit Duncan Ferguson, and Unkel all appeared to share the panel’s frustration.

Embolo converted the penalty and Switzerland dominated the remainder of the match, with Abunada producing a string of fine saves to deny a second goal. The Swiss were ultimately punished for their profligacy when Qatari captain Boualem Khoukhi headed home Homam El Amin’s cross in the 94th minute to snatch an equaliser and spark jubilant scenes among Julen Lopetegui’s squad.