Ghana manager Carlos Queiroz did not hold back after his side was denied what he called a “clear penalty” in their goalless World Cup draw with England on Tuesday night. “Once again VAR went for a coffee,” he said. The controversy came late in the game when Prince Kwabena Adu charged into the box and appeared to be brought down by England defender Ezri Konsa. Replays showed Konsa caught Adu on the knee and made no contact with the ball. No spot-kick was awarded, and VAR did not intervene.
Queiroz, whose sarcasm was barely disguised, said: “I'm not sure VAR is still working in the World Cup. We still have VAR? It's working? I have some doubts because another penalty that they need give to Ghana, a clear penalty against England [was missed]. They're lucky. They're very lucky.” He added: “It was a clear penalty, red card. You have any doubts about that?”
“Ghana denied 'clear' penalty as VAR fails to intervene in World Cup draw; Queiroz fumes.”
BBC pundits agreed with the Ghana boss. Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said: “I think that's a penalty. Konsa takes a huge risk. His feet are off the floor when he comes flying in and he gets the man, not the ball. That could easily have been given.” Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: “England were chasing the game, they were trying to score the goal but you still need that protection behind you. On another day, that could have been a penalty.”
The lack of a VAR review was explained by Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s head of referees, who has set a higher threshold for on-field challenges and wants fewer VAR interventions. Darren Cann, the 2010 World Cup final assistant referee, said on BBC One: “As an England fan I am delighted that it wasn't given. But I have to say it was the wrong decision.”
England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, were held to a 0-0 draw despite 19 shots, four on target, and a late miss by Harry Kane who blazed over. The result leaves them top of Group L ahead of Saturday's final group game against Panama. Queiroz, however, was adamant about what might have been: “I'm sorry for my sarcasm, but if I say these kind of things seriously they punish me, so I hope you understand that I'm joking.”