In the France VS Tunisia match on Wednesday, it looked like Antoine Griezmann scored an equalizer in the 98th minute only for the VAR to rule it out. However, the decision has led to controversy.
At the time of the match, Griezmann volleyed home after a poor clearance from the otherwise rock-solid Tunisian defense. When it seemed like the game would end in a draw, referee Matthew Conger consulted VAR and eventually ruled it out for an offside in the build-up.
While France made it to the Round of 16, the decision to rule out the equalizer has been found contentious. Why? It centered on the subjective decision of whether Tunisian defender Montassar Talbi’s attempted clearance was a “deliberate play”.
With how subjective the decision was, French media was quick to seize upon the subject.
According to the laws on the FA website and IFAB website, which explain VAR usage: “If play has stopped and restarted, the referee may only undertake a ‘review’, and take the appropriate disciplinary sanction, for mistaken identity or for a potential sending off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).”
Following the reveal of the controversy, it’s been announced that France will file a complaint with FIFA with the insistence that Griezmann’s chalked off goal was ‘wrongly disallowed’.
