Klopp: if this goal is illegal, Arsenal aren't champs

After Germany were eliminated by Paraguay on penalties in the World Cup Round of 32, Jürgen Klopp, working as a pundit at the match, sharply criticized the VAR decision that led to Jonathan Tah's extra-time goal being disallowed.

Germany thought they had opened the door to the next round with Tah's header in extra time. But following a VAR review, the referee disallowed the goal, ruling that Waldemar Anton had fouled the Paraguay goalkeeper. That decision paved the way for the match to go to penalties and for four-time world champions Germany to be eliminated.

Criticizing the decision, Klopp tied his words to a striking comparison. The experienced manager said that if such a goal is ruled illegal, then Arsenal would not be English champions, stressing that the team found a significant share of its goals from this kind of set-piece situation. In Klopp's words, 60% of their goals had come that way.

The dig was not incidental. Arsenal stood out in the 2025-26 season for their effectiveness from set pieces, reaching the title in particular by scoring a record number of goals from corners in league history. Klopp's point pointed to a consistency problem in decisions: a goal that counts in the Premier League being disallowed at the World Cup brought the gap between referees' applications into focus.

The elimination, a major disappointment on the German side, pushed not only fans but the wider football public into debate over the decision. Klopp's words became one of the most talked-about topics after the match. The discussion continues over how set-piece contact is judged and the role of VAR in such moments.

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