Bruninho's Goal for Maccabi Haifa Sparks Debate Over Possible Illegal Corner Kick

During the opening round of the Israeli Premier League on August 22, 2026, Maccabi Haifa took the lead against Hapoel Ramat Gan with a stunning goal by their new midfielder, Bruninho. The goal originated from a corner kick that appeared to be questionable under the latest FIFA rules implemented during the recent World Cup. The corner kick, taken by Eitan Azulai, was borderline and seemed to have gone out of play without touching any Hapoel Ramat Gan players, which would have made the corner invalid.

According to the new FIFA regulations, the VAR team is required to intervene and correct the referee if a corner kick is awarded incorrectly. If VAR determines that the ball went out without contact and the corner was wrongly given, the referee must overturn the decision. This situation has raised questions about whether Bruninho's impressive goal should have counted. Fans and analysts are debating the legality of the play, highlighting the impact of the updated rules on match outcomes.

The match continues as this controversy unfolds, with viewers invited to share their opinions on the matter. This incident underscores the growing influence of VAR and FIFA's evolving laws on Israeli football matches and their interpretation during live games.