OF COURSE VAR HAD TO INTERVENE!

England’s players were furious as Iran were awarded a late penalty by VAR — after seeing their own, more obvious appeal waved away. Harry Maguire and John stones were both manhandled to the ground at a corner by Iranian defenders in the first half. But referee Raphael Claus waved play on, to the surprise of Rio Ferdinand, who described it as ‘like WWE wrestling’. Then, in the dying minutes, the slightest contact on Morteza Pouraliganji by John stones at a corner saw Claus asked over to the pitchside monitor by VAR official leodan gonzalez.

After reviewing the footage, Claus pointed to the spot and awarded the penalty, which Mehdi Taremi converted.