• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
'It's scary!' - Mike Dean gives 'VAR glitch' theory for why Cristiano Ronaldo was given controversial penalty

Home> Football

Updated 19:08 25 Nov 2022 GMTPublished 16:40 25 Nov 2022 GMT

'It's scary!' - Mike Dean gives 'VAR glitch' theory for why Cristiano Ronaldo was given controversial penalty

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has expertly broken down why Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty against Ghana should have been overturned.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has said he is "astounded" over the "scary" decision to not overturn Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty for Portugal against Ghana on Thursday night.

Ronaldo put Portugal 1-0 up with an emphatic spot-kick that saw him become the first men's player to score in five World Cup tournaments.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had won the penalty but it was shrouded in controversy as Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu had got contact on the ball and Ronaldo went down theatrically.

Advert

There was no lengthy VAR check, nor was the referee Ismail Elfath instructed to go to the screen to see for himself.

The on-field decision stood and Ghana manager Otto Addo described it as a "gift" - also blaming the official for his side's 3-2 defeat.

Dean, who recently called time on his lengthy refereeing career, shared similar anger over the call and his only explanation for the lack of VAR intervention was a potential "technical glitch".

Advert

"The defender clearly plays the ball," Dean said, as per the Daily Mail.

"Ronaldo then touches the back of the defender, goes down, instigated contact.

"It's not the referee's fault – he's given the decision on the field of play. The VAR, in my opinion, should have got involved and invited the referee over to have a look at it.

"It's scary, I have to say. I'm just astounded. I like to back referees all the time but you can't support stuff like that. You can't defend the indefensible.

Advert

"It should have been overturned. He should have gone to the screen, he should have looked at it.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal against Ghana in his side’s 3-2 World Cup win. Image: Alamy
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for Portugal against Ghana in his side’s 3-2 World Cup win. Image: Alamy

"There may have been some technical glitch that we don't know about. I just can't understand why he wasn't sent to the screen. 100 per cent it's wrong."

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton was not happy with Ronaldo's antics, accusing him of cheating and setting a bad example to youngsters.

Advert

“The VAR officials are absolute bottle jobs. It is not good play from Ronaldo, it’s a terrible example for young kids everywhere around the world,” Sutton told the Daily Mail.

“He’s a brilliant player but it was cheating. I thought the officials needed to be stronger, it’s embarrassing really how they missed it.”

READ MORE:

  • Bruno Fernandes calls out fans who have been criticising Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Roy Keane takes aim at Newcastle when talking about Cristiano Ronaldo

Ghana pulled level when former Swansea and West Ham striker Andre Ayew tapped home in the 73rd minute before Joao Felix and Rafael Leao secured the win for Portugal.

Advert

Osman Bukari reduced the deficit late on before angering Ronaldo by performing his 'siii' celebration.

The 37-year-old, now without a club, was named Man of the Match but only took two questions in a press conference that lasted 2 minutes and 12 seconds.

Next up for Portugal is a clash with Uruguay on 28 November before they take on South Korea on 2 December.

Featured Image Credit: ITV

Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Football World Cup, Ghana, Mike Dean, Portugal, Football

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Ex-Chelsea wonderkid tipped to be 'football's next big thing' announces shock retirement from football

    The player made seven appearances for Chelsea and was once compared to Eden Hazard.

    Football
  • 4 hours ago

    Alexander Isak 'cut price tag' revealed as Liverpool deal with Newcastle 'in play'

    The Newcastle United forward has attracted interest from several top clubs this summer.

    Football
  • 6 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the new Luka Modric for Real Madrid and it could be the signing of the summer

    The Real Madrid boss could be set to replace the veteran midfielder, who will leave the club later this summer.

    Football
  • 6 hours ago

    Odds slashed on Lionel Messi's next club as clear favourite emerges after huge news drops on Inter Miami star's future

    Lionel Messi has been linked with a move away from Inter Miami.

    Football
  • Lionel Messi gives rare insight into his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo
  • Cristiano Ronaldo makes heartbreaking confession after Portugal's penalty shootout
  • What Cristiano Ronaldo did after scoring his penalty in shootout sums up his elite mentality
  • The genius reason why Cristiano Ronaldo wears nail polish with Mike Tyson also using same method