France are set to lodge an official complaint with FIFA after being controversially denied a last-gasp equaliser in their shock World Cup defeat by Tunisia.
Antoine Griezmann volleyed home with virtually the last kick of stoppage time in Les Bleus’ final Group D fixture at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on Wednesday, appearing to dramatically spare the much-changed holders’ blushes and avoid a sizable tournament upset.
Many people thought the game had ended all square, with French television station TF1 going to an advertisement break before referee Matthew Conger was instructed to consult the pitchside monitor and chalked off the 98th-minute effort for offside, confirming a historic win for Tunisia that was not enough to keep them in the competition.
France were left furious and feel that the goal was wrongly disallowed, claiming that under Fifa rules such analysis cannot happen after play has been restarted regardless of VAR influence, unless in a case of mistaken identity or to look at an offence that is punishable by a red card.
"We are writing a complaint after Antoine Griezmann's goal was, in our opinion, wrongly disallowed. This complaint has to be filed within 24 hours after the final whistle," the French Football Federation (FFF) said in a statement.
France had already sealed their spot in the last-16 with a game to spare in Qatar after opening wins over Australia and Denmark, with the hiccup against Tunisia not costing them top spot in Group D.
They will face Poland in Al Thumama on Sunday afternoon for a place in the quarter-finals after Czeslaw Michniewicz’s side narrowly pipped Mexico to second spot in Group C on goal difference on a dramatic evening despite their 2-0 loss to Argentina in Doha.
