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The FIFA World Cup tournament is the greatest showpiece in the world of football. The competition attracts thousands of supporters who throng the stadiums to watch it live and billions more in worldwide viewership. Some of the greatest players in history have cemented their legacies by winning the World Cup. The 2018 edition is on the horizon and presents the opportunity for some new faces to shine at the global stage.
In a World Cup, everything is heightened, including media coverage. Also, there is intense pressure on both match officials and players to deliver. In Russia, this will be the first time that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be used at the World Cup. Players notorious for making reckless challenges and diving will have nowhere to hide.
This technology is meant to ensure accuracy when referees are faced with game-changing decisions. Imagine if this VAR system was available during previous tournaments. Those contentious moments in World Cup history would have been detected. These are five instances in FIFA World Cup history that use of the VAR system would have proven vital.
#5 Luis Suarez bite (2014)
In 2014, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was back to his biting antics during a group match against Italy. He had previously been found guilty of biting opposition players in the English Premier League and Dutch League.
In the 79th minute of this match, a physical tussle ensued between Suarez and Italian centre-back Giorgio Chiellini, the Italian headed the ball away and was locked in contact with Suarez. As the duo fell, Suarez briefly sank his teeth into Chiellini’s shoulder.
Referee Marco Rodriguez did not spot the incident so Suarez walked away without even a booking. He went on to play the full match as Uruguay sealed a vital 1-0 win and qualified for the knockout round.
#4 Tumbling Samaras vs Ivory Coast (2014)
Ivory Coast played Greece in their final group match to determine which team would progress to the last 16. For the Elephants, a draw was enough while the Greeks needed nothing short of a win.
Wilfred Bony equalised for the African side in the 72nd minute to tie the match at 1-1 and were three minutes away from qualification when the tide of the match changed.
Ivory Coast’s Giovanni Sio appeared to have applied minimal contact to Georgios Samaras as the Greek forward tumbled down to win a penalty in the 91st minute of the match. Samaras stepped up to score the spot kick that would take Greece into the last 16 of the competition.
#3 Rivaldo theatrics v Turkey (2002)
On June 3, 2002, Brazil played Turkey in their opening Group C match at the World Cup. The South Americans were one of the favourites to lift the trophy after losing in the final to France in 1998. Their team was filled with an array of attacking stars such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.
The moment of controversy unfolded when Rivaldo theatrically fell down after Turkey’s Hakan Unsal kicked a ball him. Although the ball hit Rivaldo on his hand and leg, the Barcelona forward fell to the ground clutching his face.
This incident went on to deceive referee Kim Young-Joo who showed Unsal a red card. VAR would have easily painted a clear picture.
Rivaldo was fined €4,500 for what was viewed as simulation by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee. Regardless, Brazil went on to win the match 2-1 and the overall competition.
#2 Lampard vs Germany (2010)
During the 2010 edition in South Africa, England played Germany in the round of 16. The Germans had rushed to a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals by Miroslav Klose (20th minute) and Lukas Podolski (32nd minute) before the highly debatable decision by the referee. Seconds after Upson had pulled one goal back for England in the 37th minute, the Three Lions pressed the Germans high up the field and took advantage of an unforced error.
Frank Lampard controlled a loose ball after a partial clearance just outside the box and lobbed goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Lampard’s effort crashed against the bar and bounced just inside the goal line. The referee waived for the game to continue even though there were legitimate claims for a goal.
Even without goal-line technology, a simple video review would have shown that it was indeed a crystal clear goal. Who knows, maybe that equaliser would have changed the shape of the match. Germany went to win the match 4-1 as Thomas Mueller scored two further goals.
#1 Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ (1986)
Argentina battled England in the quarter-final of the 1986 tournament on June 22 in Mexico City, Mexico. Diego Maradona was undoubtedly Argentina’s best player at the time. His trickery and ability to score great goals made him a special player. In this match, Maradona scored two indifferent goals that would capture the world’s attention.
The opener was in the 50th minute when he jumped to contest the ball with England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Maradona won the duel by using his hand to dink the ball past Shilton.
VAR system at the time would have resulted in a booking for Maradona at the bare minimum. Despite wild protests by English players, Maradona’s goal stood and went on to become one of the most famous goals in football history.
His second in the 55th minute was sumptuous as he dribbled past four English markers and Shilton before applying the finish. Argentina won the match 2-1 and lifted the trophy after beating West Germany in the final.
