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This preliminary work by Japan's Kaoru Mitoma should cause discussions
Photo:
DYLAN MARTINEZ/ REUTERS
It was the excitement of Japan's win over Spain: Ao Tanaka's making it 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
Substitute assist Kaoru Mitoma scraped the ball off the goal line.
But did he scratch him off the line?
Or did he only catch him behind it?
The South African referee Victor Gomes also seemed uncertain after the goal.
The hit was checked for minutes by the video assistant.
But he counted, Japan led and saved the victory over time.
Germany is out, eliminated after the World Cup group stage in Qatar.
This scene is being hotly debated online.
"Isn't it clear outside?" asks a user.
On live television, the ball actually appeared to be fully over the line for a short moment from one perspective.
And that's what football is all about: the ball must no longer touch the line.
As long as he does, he stays in the game.
The TV pictures can hardly provide any information about this, because their perspective is distorted.
On Twitter, the first users tried to explain the influence of camera angles in the evening:
It will be of no use to Germany anyway, because it is a factual decision.
Means: An objection cannot be lodged, on Friday the German players will fly back to Germany.
And Japan meets Croatia in the round of 16 on Monday (4 p.m.) and Spain meets Morocco on Tuesday (4 p.m.).
hba