Why was Aleksandar Pavlovic’s goal disallowed in Germany vs Ivory Coast FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Bayern Munich defender found the back of the net in the 23rd minute.
Germany faced Ivory Coast in the Group E Matchday 2 fixture in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at BMO Field in Toronto. Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic saw his headed effort find the back of the net before the hydration break, but it was controversially ruled out by Paraguay referee Juan Gabriel Benitez.
Felix Nmecha’s powerful shot from just outside the box took a big deflection off an Ivorian defender and went behind for a corner. The ball was played into the penalty area by Nathaniel Brown.
Goalkeeper Yahia Fofana came out to punch it away, but completely fluffed his lines under pressure from Pavlovic, and the ball rolled into the back of the net.
However, the Bayern player’s celebrations were cut short as the referee immediately signalled that the goal would not stand. The reason was that Pavlovic was adjudged to have fouled Fofana.
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Pavlovic & German players disagree
When referee Juan Gabriel Benitez signalled no goal, the German players expressed their disappointment, with captain Joshua Kimmich asking for clarification from the match official.
Aleksandar Pavlovic claimed that the challenge was shoulder-to-shoulder, although replays showed that the midfielder was slightly too strong in his attempt to win the header. However, Die Mannschaft players clearly shared a different opinion, with head coach Julian Nagelsmann repeatedly gesturing to the fourth official.
Interestingly, had the goal stood, it would have been Pavlovic’s second international goal in 14 caps for the four-time champions.
The decision to overturn the goal proved to be a costly one for Germany, with Franck Kessie opening the scoring for Ivory Coast at the half-hour mark.
Why was Aleksandar Pavlovic’s goal disallowed vs Ivory Coast?
Referee Juan Gabriel Benitez ruled that Aleksandar Pavlovic had fouled goalkeeper Yahia Fofana while challenging for the ball, nullifying the goal.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.