Ghana coach Carlo Queiroz said VAR had "gone for a coffee" after his side were denied a penalty against England — a remark that captured the growing bewilderment at this World Cup. Just days ago, supporters were asking whether the video assistant referee system was being used differently. Now, after a string of strange calls, fans seem unable to predict when the video official will intervene.
The incidents have piled up. Ghana had a penalty claim rejected when Ezri Konsa challenged Prince Kwabena Adu in a clumsy tackle during a 0-0 draw. Brazil saw a goal ruled out in their 3-0 win against Scotland for a foul by Vinicius Jr on Jack Hendry — a decision that surprised many, as it appeared Hendry had kicked the Real Madrid forward rather than the other way around. Germany’s opener against Ecuador stood after VAR opted not to intervene, adding to the inconsistency.
“Fans are baffled as VAR at the World Cup produces a week of inconsistent decisions, including Ghana's denied penalty and Brazil's disallowed goal.”
Statistics show the system is being used at a similar rate to the Premier League. In England last season, there were 0.29 interventions per game; at the World Cup it is 0.28. For subjective interventions requiring a monitor visit, the Premier League had 0.15 per match and the World Cup 0.17. Pierluigi Collina, Fifa's head of referees, believes football is a contact sport and wants free-flowing, high-tempo games. "Not all contact is a foul," he argues, which means VAR must adjust to a higher bar for clear and obvious errors — a sweet spot that is increasingly hard to hit.
That high bar creates confusion because other competitions apply a lower threshold. The Champions League, for example, sees 0.47 interventions and 0.36 monitor visits per match. Uefa’s strict interpretation of handball leaves less room for subjectivity, meaning the VAR gets involved more often. That creates a "cloak of consistency," as people expect interventions, but it does not necessarily mean VAR is being used as originally intended — only for the real howlers.
Brazil's disallowed goal prompted former World Cup assistant referee Darren Cann to say: "I think Scotland are a little fortunate to be honest." The longer the tournament goes on, the more it exposes the difficulty of maintaining a consistently high bar. The Premier League has struggled with the same problem. At this World Cup, the line between intervention and restraint is becoming anyone's guess.