Impact of video tech felt immediately

The profound impact of video technology on the World Cup can be laid bare following the completion of the opening round of matches. Analysis by the UK Daily

has found that Russia 2018 has seen the most penalties per game, the highest percentage of goals scored from set-pieces and the fewest number of offsides per match of any World Cup at this stage of the competition since 1966.

There have also been fewer red cards per game after each country’s first fixture than at any World Cup for 32 years.

The debate over the introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) to the game intensified yesterday following the non-award of two penalties to Harry Kane in England’s opening win over Tunisia.

Fifa confirmed it would analyse both incidents in a mid-tournament review of VAR at Russia 2018, likely after the end of the group stages.

Brazil were also demanding answers from the governing body yesterday over why two key decisions were not overturned during their opening 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of using technology at the World Cup, there was little doubt it was delivering on its promise to revolutionise the way elite football was played.

The nine penalties awarded in the opening round of games — three of them after an initial non-award was overturned — were on average the most of any World Cup for 52 years.

The percentage of goals from set plays, 55.3 per cent, was also the highest over that period, arguably because VAR should pick up any grappling in the box.

The knowledge Big Brother was watching was also likely to be behind there having been only one red card in the 16 matches so far.

Keith Hackett, the former Fifa referee and Premier League referees chief, told the “I’m not surprised by those statistics. Teams, players and managers have been warned very strongly about their behaviour and there is a bit of fear about VAR.

“They will have been told there are 33 cameras a game watching your every move, and the referees have four colleagues in Moscow watching them. Subconsciously, that does have an effect, on a positive note, on discipline. As for penalties, that is the positive side of VAR and the clarity it gives.”