Technology used by a foreign TV network has seemingly proved just how much of the ball was still in play in the lead-up to Japan's controversial winner over Spain in the World Cup.
The camera angles which were initially shown to us gave the perception the ball was clearly over the line and therefore out of play when Kaoru Mitoma crossed for Ao Tanaka, who scored the decisive goal which ultimately knocked Germany out of the competition.
Having only seen these initial images, ITV pundits Graeme Souness and Gary Neville were perplexed by the decision to overturn the on-field call, which was initially to disallow the goal, after VAR intervened. You can read more about what they said here .
READ MORE: New Japan goal camera angle finally shows ball didn't cross line as optical illusion explained
However, while official images or indeed any sort of statement from FIFA is yet to be released regarding what technology or angles they used to decipher whether the ball was in or out of play, an overseas broadcaster has offered what looks like the most conclusive view that the ball was in fact still in play before Mitoma crossed it to Tanaka.
Qatari-owned network beIN sports showed viewers a virtual bird's eye view to show that while the section of the ball which was in contact with the floor was indeed outside the field of play, the curvature of the sphere meant the side of the ball was still marginally hovering over the line, which renders the ball in play.
You can view the image and video in full below.
In the studio at ITV, meanwhile, former Premier League referee Peter Walton tried to describe the situation, saying: "I’m seeing the same angles as you, there’s a misconception in law that just because the part of the ball that is on the floor is over the line is out - well it clearly isn’t because it’s the curve of the ball.
"We see it often with corner kicks where it’s over the line but not quite over the line. In this instance, what the VAR is looking for is the evidence to suggest to the referee that the ball has clearly left the field of play and on the evidence that we’re seeing, he doesn’t have that in front of him.
"What I would suggest is the goal line technology, those cameras are being used for VAR to discover whether it has left the field of play so there are angles that will show that. If, however, a player’s boot or a player’s shin has gone over the top of the ball can’t see it clearly then the VAR will say to the referee: ‘I don’t have that evidence to give you, Mr Referee, stay with your on-field decision’.
"We’ll see what pictures FIFA show us but the law is specific, the ball is still in play if the curvature of the ball breaks that line."
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