World Cup VAR Decisions Explained: Iran's Disallowed Goal and Ngoy's Red Card

The video assistant referee (VAR) continues to spark debate across football competitions worldwide, from the Premier League to the Champions League. Now, with 104 matches in the FIFA men's World Cup, scrutiny of VAR decisions has intensified. This review dives into key moments of the tournament, breaking down the VAR protocol and football laws behind them.

Iran vs Belgium: Disallowed Goal and Red Card Incident

Referee: Darío Herrera

VAR: Hernán Mastrángelo

25th minute - Iran’s goal ruled out: Mehdi Taremi appeared to score after a cleverly executed free kick routine. The celebration was short-lived as VAR reviewed a potential offside. The decision hinged on Taremi’s position when the ball was played; although he faced away from goal, his backside was just marginally beyond the last defender. Despite advanced technology, this tight call took time due to the complexity of multiple players involved. Ultimately, the goal was correctly disallowed for offside.

66th minute - Nathan Ngoy sent off: Belgium’s young defender miscontrolled a pass near midfield and fouled Taremi, who seemed set to break through on goal. The referee issued a red card for denial of a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO). VAR confirmed the decision quickly, agreeing all criteria were met. Key to the ruling was Taremi’s clear path to goal, no covering defenders nearby, and the goalkeeper positioned deep, confirming the foul stopped a likely scoring chance.

Paraguay vs Türkiye: New IFAB Rule Enforcement

Referee: Ivan BartonVAR: Khamis Al Marri

45+3 minutes - Miguel Almiron’s red card: Following a foul that sparked a heated exchange, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to an opponent, violating a new IFAB rule aimed at preventing hidden racist remarks. VAR swiftly reviewed and upheld the red card. Friendly conversations allow mouth covering, but confrontational ones do not. This enforcement sends a strong message about unacceptable behavior on the pitch.

United States vs Australia: Correcting an Offside Call

Referee: Felix Zwayer

VAR: Bastian Dankert

43rd minute - Alex Freeman’s goal confirmed: Initially flagged offside, VAR determined Freeman was actually onside when the ball was shot. The goal was allowed to stand. Concerns from Australia about a possible interference with their goalkeeper were dismissed, as the striker did not affect the goalkeeper’s vision or ability to play the ball.

Canada vs Qatar: Penalty Decision and Red Card Upgrades

Referee: Cristian Garay

VAR: Juan Lara

33rd minute - Penalty changed to free kick, red card issued: Qatar defender Homam El Amin was initially shown a yellow card and a penalty awarded after tripping Tajon Buchanan. VAR reviewed and found the foul occurred outside the box, changing the call to a free kick and upgrading El Amin’s card to red for DOGSO.

51st minute - Assim Omer Madibo’s red card: A challenge that looked minor in real time caused a broken leg to Ismaël Koné. After slow-motion analysis, VAR recommended upgrading Madibo’s yellow card to red due to the severity of the injury caused by a secondary action. The referee accepted without reviewing the monitor.

England vs Croatia: Penalty and Retake Due to Encroachment

Referee: Clement Turpin

VAR: Jerome Brisard

9th minute - Penalty awarded and retaken: Noni Madueke was fouled by Luka Modric inside Croatia’s box, leading to a penalty. Harry Kane’s initial attempt was saved, but VAR ordered a retake due to encroachment by both goalkeeper and defender after the save. The referee’s decisions were straightforward and aligned with the updated laws regarding encroachment.

Argentina vs Algeria: Messi’s Dangerous Challenge

Referee: Szymon MarciniakVAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski

30th minute - No card for Messi: Lionel Messi made a studs-up tackle on Algeria captain Aïssa Mandi, hitting his calf and ankle. Despite the contact and force, the referee only awarded a foul, and VAR did not intervene. The challenge was harsh and typically warrants a red card, but Messi escaped punishment.

France vs Senegal: Controversial Penalty Decision

Referee: Alireza Faghani

VAR: Abdullah Atif Abdulrahman Alshehri

62nd minute - No penalty given: Sadio Mané’s late lunge caught Kylian Mbappé, who went down in the box. The referee denied a penalty even after an on-field review recommended by VAR. The reasoning cited that Mbappé initiated contact, a rationale widely criticized as flawed given the clear foul.

Sweden vs Tunisia: Technology Aids Offside Reversal

Referee: Yael Falcón Pérez

VAR: Juan Lara

84th minute - Goal allowed after offside overturned: Substitute Mattias Svanberg scored just seconds after entering, initially ruled offside. Using Adidas’ Connected Ball Tracking technology, VAR detected a slight touch from teammate Alexander Isak that reset the play, making Svanberg onside. This precise tech aided a rare reversal.

Switzerland vs Qatar: Semi-Automated Offside System Glitch

Referee: Said Martínez

VAR: Guillermo Pacheco

14th minute - Offside check malfunction: A technical fault prevented the semi-automated offside graphic from appearing during a key moment involving Remo Freuler before he was fouled for a penalty. FIFA stated the system didn’t affect the VAR decision, but the failure raised doubts among fans.

USA vs Paraguay: Mistaken Identity Card Reversed

Referee: Danny Makkelie

VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande

53rd minute - Yellow card reassigned: Tim Ream was wrongly cautioned for a foul actually committed by Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón, who was instead booked for simulation after VAR intervention. This change exemplifies how VAR helps correct errors and deter diving.

Mexico vs South Africa: Multiple Red Cards and Disputed Decisions

Referee: Wilton Pereira Sampaio

VAR: Nicolás Gallo Barragán

• 49th minute: South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole received a red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity against Mexico’s Brian Gutiérrez. The decision was straightforward and upheld by VAR.
• 84th minute: Themba Zwane was sent off for violent conduct after striking an opponent’s face. The referee hesitated but gave the red following VAR review. Some consider this a harsh call given the context.
• 90+2 minutes: Mexico’s César Montes was dismissed for DOGSO after clipping Khuliso Mudau outside the box. The call surprised some, as the attacker seemed more likely to cross than shoot, which typically doesn’t meet the threshold for an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. VAR did not overturn the decision.

We think these examples show VAR's complex role: it rarely delivers perfect clarity but often corrects crucial errors, shaping the flow and fairness of the World Cup.