Vagaries of VAR cause confusion

Introduced to stamp out controversy over refereeing decisions, VAR — the video review system making its World Cup debut — is too often doing the exact opposite.

Debate has raged over numerous incidents in Russia, most notably Stefan Zuber’s equalizer for Switzerland in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Brazil, and two strong Harry Kane penalty appeals during England’s 2-1 victory over Tunisia.

Brazil has asked FIFA to explain why a push on Miranda by Zuber, just before he headed home, was not even referred for a review.

England, meanwhile, had to reason to complain after striker Kane was twice wrestled to the ground as players jostled for position in the penalty area.

Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan spotted neither incident and VAR officials either didn’t see them or ruled neither worthy of review.

Roldan, though, blew for a penalty, from which Tunisia equalized, after Kyle Walker’s outstretched arm rather innocuously struck Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.

England manager Gareth Southgate said after the game that although he had no complaints over Tunisia’s penalty, he wondered “why it wasn’t one at the other (end)”.

The Three Lions boss added that “if penalties are going to be given for that (Walker’s elbow), then it’s going to be an interesting tournament”.

The first 17 matches in Russia have produced 10 penalties — a record for the first round of group games and a huge increase on the number of penalties given in the past three World Cups.

It could be argued that it is easier to win a penalty now than in the past, with many officials considering even slight contact worthy of punishment.

That trend is continuing in Russia, with the benefit of doubt often given to attackers — especially in the case of Cristiano Ronaldo’s spot-kick against Spain when the Portugal superstar appeared to play for the foul.

However, the fact that VAR can only overturn a decision which is deemed a “clear and obvious error” technically renders the decisions to let those debatable spot-kicks stand correct. The same goes for Zuber’s push, which some observers thought clearcut but others not so.

The upshot, however, is that although VAR is proving helpful in certain situations, but it will not put an end to controversy as many had hoped.