World Cup 2018: 5 controversial decisions that involved VAR

After over a month of adrenaline-rushing drama and endless plot twists, the biggest sporting spectacle in the world, the FIFA World Cup has finally come to an end. France lifted the coveted trophy for the second time in history by defeating a spirited Croatian side.

The full-time football devotees turn their attention to their clubs now as the seasonal fans wait for four and half years.

There has been a lot of positives to take from this World Cup, which has been a superb one from a neutral's perspective. This is the first time technology played a very major and direct role in football, with Video Assistant Referees (VAR) being introduced. Like in any other field, technology had both a positive and a negative effect on the beautiful game.

While some teams got justice with the help of VAR, it has also committed some blunders and hence has received a fair bit of criticism. Let us have a look at the 5 biggest blunders of VAR in the tournament:

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#5 Cristiano Ronaldo's red card offence v Iran

Ronaldo was lucky to get away with only a yellow card for his hideous foul

Not only goals, but VAR also intervened in fouls. In Portugal's last group stage match against Iran, Cristiano Ronaldo's foul was checked and re-checked several times by referee Enrique Caceres before he gave the new Juventus number 7 a yellow card. He blatantly elbowed his opponent and hence the Iranians wanted a more stringent decision.

Many football experts have also blamed the referee of being more lenient than he should be, as they thought the foul was too barbaric to be overlooked. Moreover, it was an off-the-ball incident. Iran's coach Carlos Queiroz expressed his disgust after the game which ended 1-1, with Iran getting a controversial penalty.

#4 Cedric Soares' handball v Iran

Karim Ansarifard

leveled

the scores from a penalty that was never meant to be

Such was the standard of refereeing and VAR on 25th June at the Mordovia Arena of Saransk that the Iran v Portugal match features again on this list. With a superb goal from Ricardo Quaresma, Portugal were heading towards the round of 16 when a cross came into the box and in the next moment the Iranians appealed for a penalty.

In an attempt to clear the ball, Cedric Soares' hand came in contact with the ball that was headed previously. Replays made it clear that it does not fall in the 'intentional' category in any possible way. Yet, referee Enrique Caceres had a good look at it and decided against it. Iran later got another opportunity, which if they had utilised would have sent Portugal home from the group stages. Also, Portugal came second in the group because of this decision and had to face a tough Uruguayan side.

#3 Cristian Pavon foul v Iceland

Argentina

were

denied a genuine penalty by Szymon Marciniak

Argentina lost to World Cup champions France in the pre-quarters, but their road to the round of 16 was not laid with roses. They had their first reality check in the opening tie against Iceland which ended even-steven at 1-1. However, Argentine fans had to deal with a harsh decision.

Lionel Messi had missed a penalty earlier in the game but he should have got another as Cristian Pavon was fouled inside the box. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak had a word with the men in front of the screens at Moscow and no penalty was awarded. Replays confirmed that the Icelandic defender Birkir Mar Saevarsson had stopped his run illegally.

#2 Diego Costa's goal v Portugal

Diego Costa scored a brace against Portugal, though one should have been disallowed

Portugal features in this list for the third time with yet another decision going against their favour. Portugal v Spain clash was the one many football enthusiasts marked the minute the draw for this World Cup was made, and it did not disappoint. The six-goal thriller had a couple of brilliant goals, a goalkeeping howler and a VAR blunder.

Twenty minutes after Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty in the opening stages of the game, Diego Costa equalised for Spain. A Sergio Busquets ball was headed by Pepe who then received an elbow from Costa and went to the ground.

The referee did not stop the game and Costa's sublime finish made it 1-1. Though his foul on Pepe was clear, VAR decided against it and got the Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi some harsh words.

#1 Ivan Perisic handball in the final

France got a penalty for what many are saying an unintentional handball

Who would have thought that VAR will have such a great impact on the all-important final? Fans were enjoying a perfectly balanced final when Argentine referee Nestor Pitana made one of the most controversial decisions of this year's World Cup. Blaise Matuidi missed Antoine Griezmann's corner, but the person very next to him, Ivan Perisic did not.

The ball caught his hand and Pitana reversed his original decision of no penalty after having a good look at it. Henceforth, floodgates of all kinds of criticism were opened and many believed he marred the spirit of a game that was well-contested.

Australia's Tim Cahill has mocked his decision where Denmark's Yussuf Poulsen has joked about Perisic cutting his arms off for the next World Cup. Former footballers Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer also expressed their disgust. Robbie Fowler has called it "shambles of a decision", whereas Roy Keane was so disgusted that he even went on to call Pitana an "idiot".