The match between the UAE and Iraq was very dramatic. The visiting team Iraq led 2-1 from the 89th minute, after a skillful handling by Aymen Hussein in the penalty area. In the 90+3 minute, Ali Mabkhout equalized 2-2 for the UAE. Then in the 90+5 minute, Khalfan Al Mubarak had a shot into the goal but was pushed away by the Iraq goalkeeper.
Japanese referee Ryuji Sato, after consulting Goal Line technology, did not recognize the goal for the UAE. Images from television after the match showed that the ball seemed to have completely roll over the goal line. This caused great controversy.
UAE coach Bert van Marwijk said the main referee denied the home team's valid goal. "I watched the situation of Khalfan Al Mubarak after the match and I think the ball has completely crossed the line. However, the referee did not recognize the goal. I think referees need to use better techniques, especially when we are in 2021," Emirates 24/7 quoted Mr. Bert van Marwijk after the match.
In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) used VAR and Goal Line technology to limit referee errors. Goal Line technology is mainly used to determine whether there is a goal or not? However, AFC's Goal Line technology uses a recognition camera, not a magnetic cam it - which can determine whether a goal is scored or not immediately after the ball passes.
The use of surveillance cameras was generally unconvincing, especially after the controversial situation in the match of the UAE. On Koora, former Egyptian referee Gamal Al-Ghandour also said that the UAE team had been denied a valid goal. "From the TV angles, I could clearly see that the ball had completely rolled through the goal line," he shared.
