FIFA announce VAR change ahead of England v Argentina match
Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will be getting a big change ahead of England vs Argentina tonight - and no, they aren’t getting rid of it.
Because of a number of controversial decisions at this year’s World Cup, VAR officials will be located inside the stadium following a successful trial during Spain’s thrashing over France in the semis on Tuesday night (14 July).
The idea, according to reports, is that if the officials are closer to the action, the less ‘errors’ they will make.
It comes as 'VARgentina' has been trending on social media. Conspiracy theories VAR reviews have been biased in Argentina's favour took off after Switzerland's Breel Embolo was sent off thanks to FIFA's new 'mistaken identity' rule in the quarter-finals.
Advert
The rule means that the ref can reverse their decision on a yellow card following VAR review, booking a player from the opposing team instead if they think they made the wrong call.
Egypt also fell foul of VAR during their match against Argentina in the round of 16. What appeared to be a second goal in the 58th minute was ruled out after VAR found Egypt midfielder Marwan Attia had fouled Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez
"There's a lot of drama that unfolds in these games. And look, when you are asking only four officials to manage what's going on on the field, it's very difficult on a field that's much bigger than an American football field," said Dan Hunt, Owner of FC Dallas and FIFA World Cup Organising Committee member.
"I'm glad that there's gonna be on-site. I don't know what that communication's gonna look like."
It comes after Alf-Inge Haaland, Erling Haaland’s dad, said Norway were ‘robbed’ in the quarter-final because of a refereeing decision.
'We got robbed today'
Norway had a goal by Torbjorn Heggem, which would have put them 2-1 up, ruled out after Haaland pushed over Elliot Anderson at a corner.
“Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today,” the father penned on X. “Well done Bellingham and referee”.
Well, thanks to Jude, England now have a chance of making it to the final, and boss Thomas Tuchel seemed upbeat while answering questions about the upcoming grudge match this evening.
'There’s so much to love about this England squad'
When asked if he felt burdened by England’s 60-year wait for World Cup, the German manager said: “No, but I think that’s essentially what a World Cup is for.
“To excite the country, to excite fans and to transmit energy and make people forget their worries, make people’s lives better for 90, 120 minutes, and be just combined and be united and represented by a team.
“There’s so much to love about this England squad and our team that I’m very glad that that that people feel it.”
He added: “I don’t feel a burden. I mean, we feel the tension and I will be nervous, and of course that is that is normal. But I feel no burden.
"I feel what I really like is what I feel in the last days that the players are very, very competitive. They are very excited and like I said, they are hungry to play this match."
The scores every time England have played Argentina
2005 - Friendly - England 3 - 2 Argentina
2002 - World Cup, group stage - England 1 - 0 Argentina
2000 - Friendly - England 0 - 0 Argentina
1998 - World Cup, round of 16 - England 3 - 4 Argentina (penalties) - David Beckham red-carded
1991 - England Challenge Cup - England 2 - 2 Argentina
1986 - World Cup, quarter-finals - England 1 - 2 Argentina - Diego Maradona's 'hand of God' goal
1980 - Friendly - England 3 - 1 Argentina
1977 - Friendly - England 1 - 1 Argentina
1974 - Friendly - England 2 - 2 Argentina
1966 - World Cup, quarter-final - England 1 - 0 Argentina - referred to by Argentina as 'the theft of the century'
1964 - Taça das Nações - England 0 - 1 Argentina
1962 - World Cup, group stage - England 3 - 1 Argentina
1953 - Friendly - England 0 - 0 Argentina
1953 - Friendly - England 1 - 3 Argentina
1951 - Friendly - England 2 - 1 Argentina
England has won 60 percent of their World Cup clashes with Argentina.
Of their games overall, England has won 40 percent, Argentina 27 percent, and the rest have been draws.
Anish Vij