How in 2 Minutes VAR changed the outcome in Group B for Portugal and Spain

With Ricardo Quaresma’s stunning strike being enough to separate Portugal from Iran in Saransk and Spain trailing to their colonial rivals Morocco over in Kaliningrad, Group B looked settled with Portugal topping the group and Spain finishing second by the skin of their teeth through the ‘most goals scored’ rule. 

However, as what is known as ‘Fergie time’ to most Premier League fans approached, the Video Assistant Referee’s intervened and changed everything. 

Many fans questioned Spain’s part-time manager, Fernando Hierro when he brought off their leading scorer Diego Costa and replaced him with Liverpool flop, Iago Aspas. However, his flick in stoppage time from a Dani Carvajal’s low cross found the back of the net which saw him wheel off in celebration, to then be flagged offside.

Meanwhile, in the other game between Iran and Portugal, stoppage time witnessed the Iranians have their appeal for a handball in the box by Southampton full-back Cedric Soares waved away by the referee. 

Then in almost identical fashion, both referee’s held their earpiece, paused the game and ran over to the VAR screen to review both incidents. 

After countless replays being shown on the TV screen to the public and the referee, it was obvious that the Aspas goal should stand. To his misfortune, M’barek Boussoufa’s failure to drag his left leg in line with the rest of the defense played the Spaniard onside. 

This goal would then be the difference that would set apart Portugal and Spain for their fight for first place as Ravshan Irmatov had awarded Iran a penalty after reviewing the suspected Soares handball. This decision, unlike the Aspas goal, was given against public opinion as the replay showed everyone that the ball skimmed his arm while his eyes were closed. 

Within a heartbeat, VAR had taken Portugal from Group B winners who would face host’s Russia in the last-16, to Runner’s up who now face a more challenging tie against Uruguay. The decision to penalise Portugal on the ‘handball’ was harsh but was a reminder to everyone that VAR is down to the referee’s interpretation. 

Portugal now find themselves on the harder side of the draw with either Brazil, France, Belgium or England to be their likely opponents if they are to beat Uruguay. 

VAR has already had a huge impact on this World Cup with already 20 penalties being awarded, compared to only the 13 that were given in Brazil four years ago. I believe that the Iran penalty decision is only the beginning because as we enter the knockout stages of the tournament the VAR decisions will have more of an impact and referees will crumble under the pressure - Hopefully for the sake of the game this is not the case and VAR takes the headlines for doing right.