The VAR decision that left the best referees in the world stunned
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
Kylian Mbappé was the victim of a tackle in the area in the 58th minute but referee Alireza Faghani, after consulting the screen, did not give a penalty, explaining that Mbappé would have initiated the contact. Former arbitrators and consultants sharply criticized the decision. France finally won 3-1 and Mbappé scored twice, becoming the top scorer in the history of the Blues.
A video decision which left many observers stunned. During the France–Senegal match at New York New Jersey Stadium, Kylian Mbappé was unbalanced in the area in the 58th minute following a tackle by Sadio Mané. Referee Alireza Faghani asked to consult the sideline monitor (VAR) before returning to the pitch.
On his return, Faghani first appeared to point to the penalty spot, sparking joy among the thousands of French fans in the stadium. This joy was short-lived: the referee actually signaled a corner (goal-kick) and explained that, according to him, Mbappé had initiated the contact.
The decision sparked a wave of incomprehension among the former officials and consultants present. Darren Cann, who was an assistant at the 2010 World Cup final, said his phone "blew up" with messages from many of the world's best referees, unable to understand why no penalties had been awarded. Pat Nevin, for BBC Radio 5 Live, described the decision as "sucky" and "absurd", saying there was "zero chance" that Mbappé had initiated the contact.
Image
Alan Shearer, commentating for BBC One, called the decision “bizarre”: “I don’t understand. We see Mané's dive and his left leg touches Mbappé. How can Mbappé initiate contact if he is in front of him? It's really weird. »
Darren Cann summed up his incomprehension by estimating that, after viewing the VAR, it was, according to him, a “very, very clear” penalty.
On a sporting level, the controversy did not cost the Blues dearly. France won 3-1; Mbappé scored a double and broke two personal records: with 58 goals in 99 caps, he overtakes Olivier Giroud in the ranking of historic scorers for the Blues, and with 14 goals in 15 final phase matches, he becomes the top French scorer in World Cups.
In the mixed zone, coach Didier Deschamps said his team “should have obtained a penalty”. “There was a call to VAR and I won't tell you what I said to the fourth referee,” Deschamps said, adding: “For the referee to come back and say that Kylian advanced his leg, I'm not sure. For me, it's a penalty but that's my interpretation. The referee is always right. »