Ghana Coach Questions VAR’s Presence After Draw Against England

Ghana’s coach, Carlos Queiroz, has openly questioned the effectiveness and even the presence of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system during his team’s World Cup match against England, which ended in a goalless draw. The Portuguese tactician voiced his strong dissatisfaction with several officiating decisions that he believes went against his side.

Queiroz’s sharp remarks came after a match where both England and Ghana had opportunities to secure a victory. A pivotal moment occurred in the second half when Ghana’s Prince Adu and England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford collided outside the penalty area. The on-field referee, Jaap Mooyer, did not deem it a foul, and crucially, the VAR did not intervene to review the incident.

Another instance cited by Queiroz involved a late challenge by England’s Marc Guéhi in the box on Adu, which also went unpunished. Former England international Wayne Rooney also suggested that Guéhi was fortunate not to concede a penalty for the challenge.

Sarcasm and Frustration

Speaking to journalists after the game, Queiroz sarcastically inquired if the VAR officials were on vacation or taking a coffee break. “I doubt if the VAR is active during this World Cup,” Queiroz stated, his tone laced with disbelief. “The VAR must have been on vacation in the second half. Or were they getting coffee? Do you have any doubts about that, or am I the only one who watched the game?”

Later, during the press conference, Queiroz acknowledged his sarcastic approach, explaining his rationale. “Sorry for my sarcasm,” he said. “If I say something serious, I will be punished. That’s why I’m making a joke out of it.” This suggests a frustration with the perceived lack of accountability or action from the officiating team and FIFA.

FIFA, when approached for comment on the refereeing decisions, declined to provide a statement.

Ghana’s World Cup Outlook

Despite the officiating controversy, Ghana remains in contention in their group. With four points from their matches so far, they are preparing for a crucial final group stage game against Croatia, who currently sit one point behind them. The other group match sees England facing Panama. Both final group games are scheduled to kick off simultaneously on Saturday at 11:00 PM local time.

The outcome of these final matches will determine which teams advance from the group to the knockout stages of the tournament. Ghana will be looking to put the officiating concerns behind them and focus on securing a favorable result against Croatia to ensure their progression.

Key facts

The controversy surrounding the VAR’s non-intervention highlights ongoing debates about the implementation and effectiveness of video technology in football. For Ghana and their supporters, these decisions could have significant implications for their World Cup campaign, adding an extra layer of tension to their upcoming crucial fixture.

Source: https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/bondscoach-ghana-vraagt-zich-hardop-af-was-de-var-op-vakantie-of-koffie-halen