sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

FIFA Set To Review VAR Decisions After England Penalty Debacle

FIFA Set To Review VAR Decisions After England Penalty Debacle

England probably should have had two penalties against Tunisia with Harry Kane stopped in both of them.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Harry Kane's winning goal on Monday night brought happiness to England fans as they picked up their opening three points of the World Cup but it also meant we were spared a life time of hearing about VAR.

Sure at every turn a pundit is ready to tell us why VAR is the devil, even when the decision is right and didn't take that long to get too, but if England had failed to win on Monday night we'd have got VAR talk till we could take now more.

That's because before Harry Kane's late goal the England striker had twice been impeded in the penalty box when England had corners. Both looked like stonewall penalties, neither were given.

Up until that point VAR had been working pretty well at the tournament with Switzerland's goal against Brazil the only other big question mark in some people's mind.

But the failure to give England even one of their spot kicks against Tunisia has led FIFA to announce, as per the Telegraph, that they will analyse the system's performance in that game and on the whole.

Kane taken down at a corner. Image: BBC Sport
Kane taken down at a corner. Image: BBC Sport

Before the tournament the governing body briefed teams about incidents that they would be clamping down on with holding and grappling at corners chief amongst those incidents. Clips were even shown as an example of when action would be taken.

That though has not come to fruition in any of the games with the highest profile moments coming against Kane in the game on Monday night.

Some argued that John Stones push on a Tunisian defender had led the VAR officials to decide against awarding England a penalty in the first incident but that 'push' was even lighter than the one in the lead up to Switzerland's goal against Brazil that was not overturned.

Zuber heads home a controversial equaliser. Image: PA Images
Zuber heads home a controversial equaliser. Image: PA Images

Miranda was pushed by Steven Zuber just before the Swiss player headed home his country's equaliser and the CBF have asked FIFA why that wasn't picked up by the VAR officials.

Generally speaking it has been going well at the World Cup but there's still been incidents that are worth questioning so further improvements can be made.

How do you think VAR is working?

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, FIFA, World Cup news, England, Harry Kane, VAR