A heated AFC Champions League Elite semifinal between Machida Zelvia and Shabab Al Ahli ended in chaos after a VAR intervention overturned a disallowed goal, sparking outrage from the UAE side. The match concluded 1-0 in favor of Machida, but Shabab Al Ahli argued their 92nd-minute equalizer—scored by Guilherme Bala—should have stood. The controversy stemmed from a substitution: Machida’s Hotaka Nakamura was still on the field as Henry Heroki Mochizuki entered, creating a technicality that led referee Shaun Evans to consult VAR.

Evans ruled Mochizuki’s late arrival invalidated the restart, disallowing Bala’s goal. Shabab Al Ahli coach Paulo Sousa condemned the decision, calling it a "technical mistake" that turned football into rubble and criticized the Asian Football Confederation for selecting underqualified officials. The incident raises questions about VAR protocols and referee preparedness in high-stakes matches.