STONE-WALL CALL TO VAR
JOHN STONES has called on World Cup referees and match officials to raise their game.
Earlier this week, Gareth Southgate admitted he feared VAR could wreck England’s dreams in Qatar.
The Three Lions boss was left seething when they were denied a stonewall penalty during their 6-2 thrashing of Iran in Group B.
To make matters worse, Stones was penalised for conceding what looked to be a soft spot kick near the end of the opening win in Doha.
The Manchester City defender insists he was also fouled in the same incident as Harry Maguire – and has called on officials to be more consistent and start practising what they preach in meetings before games.
Stones said: “I don’t know what that VAR thought process was.
“I know Harry got highlighted in that first instance – but I’m not one for going down and I was appealing for a penalty. I didn’t even realise that Harry had been having the same thing.
“And looking at it after, I’m a bit baffled that nothing had been called and then I was for something that, in my opinion, was never, ever a penalty.
“I don’t believe that with the amount of jostling that goes on in a box, a little pull of the shirt makes someone’s knees buckle and go over.
“It’s hard to know what someone’s thought process is, because we get sat in a refereeing meeting and get told certain things and I think our frustration is when those don’t get backed up.”