FRANCE HAVE FILED a complaint to Fifa after a late equaliser by Antoine Griezmann against Tunisia yesterday was disallowed following a VAR review.
Griezman scored with a volley eight minutes into time added on, but his goal was disallowed for offside following a video review.
Tunisia won the game 1-0 as a result, yet France finished top of Group D despite the loss, while Tunisia did not qualify for the round of 16.
“We are writing a complaint after Antoine Griezmann’s goal was, in our opinion, wrongly disallowed. This complaint has to be filed within 24 hours after the final whistle,” the French Football Federation (FFF) said in a statement.
Play had already restarted, for 40 seconds, following Griezmann’s strike, and according to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) rulebook, VAR checks after that point are not allowed, except in certain circumstances.
“The use of VARs in football matches is based on a number of principles, all of which must apply in every match using VAR,” according to the IFAB.
Its 10th principle states: “If play has stopped and been restarted, the referee may not undertake a ‘review’ except for a case of mistaken identity or for a potential sending-off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).”
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FIFA counter with disallowing Henry handball goal incident in 2010 qualifying.
Where was VAR for Henry’s famous goal in 09?
@Fellainis Fro: it was actually gallas who scored and was also offside
@Shane Lad: You would be correct, I was distracted in fury
Interesting but doesn’t VAR check every goal? If so then the VAR check should still happen and the real issue is the ref shouldn’t have restarted the game rather than the check not happening
Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the ref restarting the game, the VAR decision showed up the stupidity of the offside rule in its current form.
Disallowing that goal was a victory for bureaucracy over common sense
@Lesidees: If they’re going to apply the offside law to the letter, then they should apply the VAR law to the letter as well. Once played restarted it was too late for a VAR check. Lucky it had no effect on qualification or imagine the mayhem
A ridiculous decision to disallow it.
The World Cup has been great but VAR leaves alot to be desired.