With VAR about to be introduced in the Premier League for the first time, Goal rounds up its most memorable (and contentious) decisions
It's fair to say that VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has garnered more critics than fans, with its use in tournaments such as World Cup, the Champions League and Copa America causing more disruption than orderliness.
Sure, the stakes are higher when VAR is used in knockout competitions, but ahead of its first season in the Premier League – which is certain to be eventful – here are some of VAR's most eventful instances across football.
GettyScotland vs Argentina, 2019 Women’s World Cup
The 2019 Women’s World Cup was memorable for many reasons, though its VAR-related controversies were one of the main talking points.
In an eventful round of 16 fixture, Scotland looked to have secured a 3-2 victory over Argentina. There was controversy already when a decision was made to award Argentina a penalty three minutes from full-time, only for goalkeeper Lee Alexander to save it. The real chaos ensued, however, when VAR judged that Alexander was off her line.
The penalty was retaken, and this time Florencia Bonsegundo scored to pull one back for her side, levelling the score at 3-3 and sending Scotland home at the death.
The new goalkeeping rule was already causing ire throughout the World Cup, with the new regulations introduced on June 1 stating that goalkeepers must have one foot at least partly on the goal line when the kick is taken, and neither can stand behind or in front of the line.
AdvertisementGettyArgentina vs Brazil, Copa America semi-final 2019
Argentina vs Brazil’s semi-final match in the 2019 Copa America made headlines not only because of the high-profile nature of the game, but because of the VAR-related controversy that caused Lionel Messi to heavily criticise CONMEBOL.
"There is no doubt, the whole thing is set up for Brazil," he said. "I hope the VAR and referees don't play any part in the final and that Peru can compete but it looks tough to me.
"I did not want to be part of this corruption, we shouldn't have to be part of this disrespect we suffered during the Copa America."
His anger refers to two incidents in the final 20 minutes of the game, when Sergio Aguero was about to run in onto a Messi pass before tumbling over Dani Alves in the box. The ball was then cleared, with Gabriel Jesus bursting forward to play the ball to Roberto Firmino who scored the second goal. In Messi’s opinion, VAR should have awarded a penalty following Alves’ foul, which would have changed the course of the game.
The second incident refers to Arthur seemingly heavily shoving Nicolas Otamendi deliberately with his shoulder as the Argentine international was about to meet a left-wing corner, though no foul was given.
GettyMan City vs Tottenham, 2018-19 UCL
During Man City’s drama-filled quarter-final clash with Tottenham in the UCL, two notable VAR-related events came up. The first was when Fernando Llorente scored to make it 4-3 to Tottenham, therefore sending the Londoners through on away goals.
Llorente scored in the 73rd minute, but on replay, it looked as if the ball was close to hitting his hand or elbow area before falling into the net – prompting calls of handball.
The referee reviewed the incident on the pitch side monitors but ruled out a handball, allowing the goal and incensing the Etihad supporters.
Man City needed to score one more goal to keep their UCL hopes alive, and Raheem Sterling looked to have saved the day in stoppage time when he scored his hat-trick to level the score at 4-4. VAR, though, deemed that when Aguero received the ball at the start of the play, he was offside when the ball touched Bernardo Silva, therefore disallowing the goal and breaking City hearts.
Getty ImagesManchester United vs PSG, 2018-19 UCL
Handball issues – and debating how deliberate they are – have played an important role in VAR awarding penalties after further review.
Paris Saint-Germain’s last-16 clash with Man Utd in the Champions League was jam-packed with chaos and controversy when, in the 89th minute, Diogo Dalot played a ball into the box as his team were desperately looking for a last-minute goal at the Parc des Princes to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
Dalot’s ball clearly struck PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe in the box, though VAR was consulted to deem whether or not his movement to block the ball was deliberate (the ball was likely sailing high of the goal otherwise).
To the shock and fury of the PSG side (as well as Neymar, who had been watching from the stands), the referee awarded Man Utd the penalty – and Marcus Rashford dutifully converted in the dying minutes of stoppage time to send the Red Devils through to the last eight.
“This is a disgrace,” Neymar wrote on Instagram. “Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television. It was nothing! What can [Kimpembe] do with his hand while his back is turned? Go f*** yourselves!”