VAR Inflicts Wounds on Iran, Portugal

Portugal were understandably miffed at the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) used to award a penalty that earned Iran a 1-1 draw in their final Group B match at the FIFA World Cup on Monday (June 25). The equaliser denied the European champions top sport in the group. Surprisingly Iran coach Carlos Queiroz did not have kind words for VAR either.

Speaking after the match, Portugal centre-back Jose Fonte said VAR was "unacceptable". Fonte and the rest of his team felt they were in for a 1-0 win, and would have progressed as group winners ahead of Spain if not for the VAR penalty that went in Iran’s favour in the dying moments of the match.

Referee Enrique Caceres awarded Iran a penalty after a Sardar Azmoun header hit the hand of Cedric Soares, who was adjudged to have intentionally handled following a video review.  Karim Ansarifard scored from the spot.

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In insult to injury, Portugal finished second in Group B behind Spain, who were helped by VAR to a 2-2 draw in their final group game against Morocco. VAR led to the decision to allow a 91st-minute strike from Iago Aspas for Spain, who will now play Russia, while Portugal will take on a Uruguay in the Round of 16.

Portugal should be happy about avoiding a match-up with Russia, who seem to be playing on a higher level with a partisan crowd behind them. However, Uruguay, after the initial stutter, are on a roll too and would be tricky opponents for the European champions.

Fonte was upset and felt Portugal were robbed off a win. "This World Cup is just crazy! We are not happy with the situation, the constant stopping the game, the controversy all the time," he said.

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"To end the game like that is just not fair. This VAR system is not my thing. Cedric is furious. In our opinion, he is not even looking at the ball,” added Fonte. “It is impossible to not have your arms raised in that position. How can you jump with both arms next to your body? It is impossible.”

“The ball did not even change trajectory. In the end, we could have almost lost the game - VAR is unacceptable. In the end, we got done by a dubious decision and we have to move on. Sometimes you just don't get the rub of the green,” he added.

Meanwhile, Iran coach Queiroz was upset at how VAR keeps the players and coaches in the dark and how the breaks kill the game’s momentum.

"I have to be careful because FIFA is here," the coach joked before speaking of other incidents such as the first penalty (in favour of Portugal), which Cristiano Ronaldo failed to convert.

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"It was a bit strange when he gave a penalty as nobody knew what was happening. It took a while to stop play and then five or six people saw the incident on a slow motion camera. As a coach, you have to have the possibility of knowing what's going on," Queiroz said. "I don't want to talk about it any more or have problems, but it stopped play, it's the same story. I said it yesterday and I repeat it now: I don't want to know if my daughter is a bit pregnant, only fully pregnant. VAR isn't going well, it's not working. The only country who isn't complaining is Iran, we haven't asked for anything."

In the match, the referee also used VAR to examine Ronaldo's aggressive behaviour. That referral led to the star striker being booked with a yellow card. 

"I don't know if he wasn't sent off because of who he is and a star of football, that's a good question. But what doesn't make any sense is all this, seeing something and showing a yellow," added Queiroz.

(With inputs from IANS)