Ecuador vs Germania

In the build-up to a Germany goal against Ecuador, a German player raised his foot high to reach a high ball, and an Ecuador defender challenging him made slight contact with the boot near his head. Ecuador appealed for dangerous play. The on-field referee allowed the goal and VAR confirmed it. Under Law 12, playing in a dangerous manner (a high foot near an opponent's head) is only an offence when it endangers an opponent who is playing safely — it is NOT an offence when the opponent creates the danger himself by moving into a legitimate attempt to play the ball. Here the German player was genuinely playing a high ball, the contact was slight rather than a forceful strike, and the motion into the boot was made by the Ecuador player. There is therefore no dangerous-play foul by the attacking team, nothing for VAR to overturn, and the goal correctly stands. CORRECT DECISION, HIGH confidence.