Didier Drogba Questions VAR After Ivory Coast's World Cup Exit

Drogba's Critique of Officiating

In Texas, on July 1, Didier Drogba expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating following Ivory Coast's elimination from the FIFA World Cup. He highlighted a significant moment in their 2-1 defeat against Norway, where he believed a clear penalty should have been awarded in the second half.

The former striker raised concerns about the effectiveness of VAR after Nicolas Pepe's penalty appeals were dismissed, making it a focal point of discussion in the knockout match.

During the second half, Pepe seemed to be fouled inside the Norwegian penalty area. Despite the strong protests from the Ivory Coast team, neither the on-field referee nor the Video Assistant Referee granted a penalty, leading to frustration among the players.

Drogba took to X to voice his outrage, stating, "Disgraceful, that penalty not called on Nicolas Pepe, pfffffff, what’s the point of VAR?!??!"

Honteux ce penalty non sifflet sur Nicolas Pépé pfffffff a quoi sert la VAR?!??!

— Didier Drogba (@didierdrogba) June 30, 2026

Norway managed to secure a 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in a closely fought match, advancing to the Round of 16 thanks to a late goal from Erling Haaland.

Haaland's dramatic winner in the 86th minute added to his growing reputation on the international stage.

With this result, Norway moves forward in the tournament, while Ivory Coast exits after a commendable effort. This match marked a significant milestone for Ivory Coast, as it was their inaugural knockout game in World Cup history. Norway will now face Brazil in the next round.