VAR: the World Cup verdict so far – some success but more clarity needed | Sachin Nakrani

The multiple controversies surrounding Iran v Portugal and Morocco v Spain showed that VAR can create as much argument as it resolves but in other areas it has worked well

So here we go again, another discussion about VAR. It feels like a day hasn’t passed at this World Cup without the video‑assistant elephant in the room raising its trunk and spraying controversy all over proceedings, and that is largely because a day has indeed not passed without its use – or lack of – becoming a matter for discussion.

Tensions have been simmering and reached boiling point after Monday’s double header in Group B. The outcomes of Iran’s 1-1 draw with Portugal in Saransk and Spain’s 2-2 draw with Morocco in Kaliningrad were both affected by the link-up between officials at the stadiums and those back at VAR HQ in Moscow. There were right calls, there were wrong calls, and by the end came the impression that something designed to reduce the sense of injustice and foul play in football has made matters worse.

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